芝加哥监察长办公室周二发布的审计报告指出，该市现有啮齿动物防控项目无法实现鼠患的长期控制[1]。审计覆盖2023年7月至2024年7月期间，重点评估了街道和卫生部的防控措施效能[1]。
根据报告数据，鼠患投诉数量从2021年的约66000起下降至2025年的约44000起[1]。尽管投诉量有所回落，但监察长David Glockner表示，"没有改变策略，几乎不可能取得持久进展"[1]。他指出，该市防控工作主要采取被动应对措施而非主动预防方案，这是问题所在[1]。
为改善局面，审计报告建议芝加哥采用综合害虫管理方法，优先处理鼠患根本原因，并将毒药作为最后手段[1]。目前，该市在部分社区已试验啮齿动物避孕药方案[1]。2026年鼠患防控项目预算约为1250万美元，配备约100名员工[1]。
Chicago's Inspector General's office released an audit report on Tuesday concluding that the city's rodent control program cannot achieve lasting rat population management under its current approach [1]. The audit, which examined operations between July 2023 and July 2024, found that the program relies predominantly on reactive measures rather than proactive prevention strategies [1].
Inspector General David Glockner stated that "without changing strategy, sustained progress is nearly impossible" [1]. To address this challenge, the audit recommends that Chicago adopt an integrated pest management approach, prioritizing solutions that target the root causes of infestation while reserving poison as a last resort [1]. The city's 2026 rat control budget stands at approximately $12.5 million and employs about 100 staff members [1].
Despite these findings, Chicago has seen some reduction in complaints over recent years, with rat complaints declining from roughly 66,000 in 2021 to about 44,000 in 2025 [1]. In addition, certain Chicago neighborhoods have recently experimented with rodent contraceptive programs as part of efforts to manage the population [1].