Outside volunteers, their terriers tackle Vallejo ferry terminal rat problem
VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- There's an update on the rat problem that has been festering for weeks at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. Residents are wondering if a group of volunteers and their furry friends are the real reason you'll notice less rodents in the area.
For Ryder Lopez, starting a new job at Panama Bay Coffee came with an unexpected surprise.
RELATED: Rats swarming Vallejo Ferry Terminal spark health concerns and city response
"I was like, 'Oh my God, what is happening?'" said Lopez, 19, who started working at the cafe in the Vallejo Ferry Terminal a few weeks ago.
On his very first day, Lopez said he saw as many as 14 to 15 rats scurrying from the grass into nearby bushes.
"It was like, 'Ahh, God!'" he said. "I've never seen that many before."
The rat problem outside of the Vallejo Ferry Terminal had become increasingly common, raising concerns among commuters and workers in the area.
On Friday and again on Monday, the city said it brought in a pest control company to address the issue. Officials say their treatment was effective and that residents should begin noticing a difference.
Lopez, who works the early morning shift, has already seen a change.
"Every time I come in at 4 a.m., I look for them," he said. "I listen for them in the dumpster. This morning, there wasn't anything."
But while the city says pest control played a role, many locals are giving credit to an unexpected group of helpers: a team of volunteers and their terriers.
Enter SCRAT, the Sacramento Canines' Rat Annihilation Team.
"They're receiving us really well," said Emily Iniguez, the group's founder. "We care a lot about birds of prey, and unfortunately rat poison is really detrimental to wildlife."
SCRAT's volunteers aim to control rat populations without using harmful chemicals. Instead, they let their trained terriers do what they love: sniff out and catch rats.
Between Friday and Sunday night alone, two of the team's dogs - Nora and Creature - caught nearly 60 rats near the ferry terminal.
"The pictures really let you know how many were removed in that time frame," Iniguez said. "It's impressive there are that many rats that can be caught."
For workers like Lopez, the help hasn't gone unnoticed.
"I think it's super nice of them to do that for us," he said.
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