Fun times in Seattle

They are replacing the old Alaska Way Viaduct with a tunnel and construction is starting next Spring. From Seattle, WA station KOMO:

Tunnel project could push rats, roaches into Seattle buildings
Seattle's Alaskan Way viaduct tunnel project threatens to create an unpleasant spillover effect, and one that just might make your skin crawl.

Millions of rodents and roaches have lived underground long before construction on the tunnel started. As the Puget Sound Business Journal first reported, when the giant boring machine goes to work next year, pest control experts say those critters will scurry in search of quieter lodging.

"What's the next best place? It's in all the buildings in the city," said Shane Hartnett of Sprague Pest Solutions.

Sprague is launching a campaign urging business owners near the waterfront to start protecting themselves now. The company is using bike billboards that say, "Save your building: Ratpocalypse is coming."

Out here, mice are a way of life -- just chased on away that was trying to come into the living room this afternoon. Thought the cats had brought it in, went to pick it up and it scurried away. Only difference is that out here, the population is kept in check by natural predators -- raptors, owls and crows as well as the snakes. In Seattle, there are a lot more opportunities for food and the natural predators aren't present. Should be fun to see -- from a distance. One of the commentors at the KOMO site had this bon mot:

Tunnel project could push rats, roaches into Seattle buildings"
And here I thought the mayor and city council all ready had their own building.

Heh -- a wiseguy...