Milford’s War On Rats Made Worse By Someone Feeding Wildlife In Backyard, Officials Say

MILFORD, Maine — A small Maine town’s war on rats became more complicated after a resident was found to be feeding wildlife — adding to the ever-growing rat problem. Residents have been complaining about the rats in Milford for weeks and routinely report killing them by the armful. The rat problem has left many frustrated as local officials have said there is nothing the town can do to address the problem — until now. During the Milford Selectboard meeting Tuesday night, fire chief Josh Mailman said town health officer and assistant fire chief Chris Liepold had found that a resident on Pine Street was feeding wildlife in her backyard. The pile of corn and sunflower seeds was approximately 20 feet wide and 12 to 12 1/2 inches deep, Mailman said. One resident installed a game camera near the pile of food to see what animals were eating, and so far there have been images of deer, coyotes, bears and “a lot of rats,” he said. A dead rat festers in a parking lot in Milford July 22, 2021.