Have a horror story about rats? Share your rat and mice stories and opinions with us on our message board.
If you want to share your rat story with reporter Jackie Bange, leave us a second comment with your contact info (don't worry we won't publish that to the web!). Our apologies, but Jackie will not be able to contact everyone who responds.
1.
i've worked beneath the concourse and it was quite common for the ual workers to feed the rats.i'm surprised it's taken this long for the rats to reach the top
Submitted by: caroline
8:36 AM CDT, May 9, 2008
2.
Surprised to see a veteran reporter like Jackie Bange get snookered so easily by the state health department. They're going to "investigate" and "assist" the city in dealing with mice at O'Hare? Please. The IDPH has been so thoroughly gutted in recent years, they barely have enough staff to keep the lights on. They have no rodent control staff. They have no food safety staff. Too bad Jackie didn't check that out before she breathlessly asserted that the Springfield cavalry is coming to save O'Hare.
Submitted by: Chicagoan
10:12 AM CDT, May 21, 2008
3.
If you submitted a comment and wanted to be contacted, please write back with your e-mail address and phone number because we want to interview you! (Again, we will not publish your contact info on the website.)
Submitted by: WGN Producers
7:21 AM CDT, May 9, 2008
4.
If the person in charge of the concessions program was on her job, maybe this problem would not have gotten out of hand. Mayor Daley, get someone out there that will handle this job effectively!
Submitted by: Jenna
3:19 PM CDT, May 7, 2008
5.
O'Hare is not alone. I once sat in a waiting area at LaGuardia in New York and I, not afraid of rats or mice, wanted to pull my feet up on the seat. I had purchased a sandwich at a kiosk and promptly threw it away!
Submitted by: Gary
1:33 PM CDT, May 7, 2008
6.
I USED TO WORK AT OHARE AIRPORT AT GATE C9, AND SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW ME AND PASSENGERS SAW MICE RUNNING AROUND WE JUMPED ON OUR SEATS THEY CREEPED US OUT.
Submitted by: deborah
9:52 AM CDT, May 7, 2008
7.
Are you now the offical rat/mouse reporter for WGN/CNN?
Submitted by: Michael
9:12 AM CDT, May 7, 2008
8.
I recently retired from working at O'Hare on the night shift. I can give you additional info. If interested, contact me.
Submitted by: Jim
10:06 PM CDT, May 6, 2008
9.
Mice can cause many issues, the mice shown in the report are not carriers of Hanta Virus. This is one of the issues with the procurment process. This is a low bid contract with a set aside for diversification reasons. You get what you pay for. Buy cheap get problems. I would also say there is a supervision problem with this issue on many fronts from pest control contractor to admin to food service contractor, to hosuekeeping, to maitenance deptartments. Now it is a crisis, its been a crisis for a while
Submitted by: Kevin
9:53 PM CDT, May 6, 2008
10.
I travel in and out of O'Hare every week. While I have not seen any of these rodents, I am sure they exist. But what parents would sit there and allow the kids to be entertained by feeding them? I would never have allowed that, nor would my child be crawling on the floor! I am sure other restaurants, airports, etc. have the same problem. But then what do you expect from an airport that took over 6 months to get the escalators and elevators to work properly in Terminal 1? Mayor Daley should be less concerned about getting the Olympics and more concerned about getting O'Hare to run like a major airport should.
2. Surprised to see a veteran reporter like Jackie Bange get snookered so easily by the state health department. They're going to "investigate" and "assist" the city in dealing with mice at O'Hare? Please. The IDPH has been so thoroughly gutted in recent years, they barely have enough staff to keep the lights on. They have no rodent control staff. They have no food safety staff. Too bad Jackie didn't check that out before she breathlessly asserted that the Springfield cavalry is coming to save O'Hare.
3. If you submitted a comment and wanted to be contacted, please write back with your e-mail address and phone number because we want to interview you! (Again, we will not publish your contact info on the website.)
4. If the person in charge of the concessions program was on her job, maybe this problem would not have gotten out of hand. Mayor Daley, get someone out there that will handle this job effectively!
5. O'Hare is not alone. I once sat in a waiting area at LaGuardia in New York and I, not afraid of rats or mice, wanted to pull my feet up on the seat. I had purchased a sandwich at a kiosk and promptly threw it away!
6. I USED TO WORK AT OHARE AIRPORT AT GATE C9, AND SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW ME AND PASSENGERS SAW MICE RUNNING AROUND WE JUMPED ON OUR SEATS THEY CREEPED US OUT.
7. Are you now the offical rat/mouse reporter for WGN/CNN?
8. I recently retired from working at O'Hare on the night shift. I can give you additional info. If interested, contact me.
9. Mice can cause many issues, the mice shown in the report are not carriers of Hanta Virus. This is one of the issues with the procurment process. This is a low bid contract with a set aside for diversification reasons. You get what you pay for. Buy cheap get problems. I would also say there is a supervision problem with this issue on many fronts from pest control contractor to admin to food service contractor, to hosuekeeping, to maitenance deptartments. Now it is a crisis, its been a crisis for a while
10. I travel in and out of O'Hare every week. While I have not seen any of these rodents, I am sure they exist. But what parents would sit there and allow the kids to be entertained by feeding them? I would never have allowed that, nor would my child be crawling on the floor! I am sure other restaurants, airports, etc. have the same problem. But then what do you expect from an airport that took over 6 months to get the escalators and elevators to work properly in Terminal 1? Mayor Daley should be less concerned about getting the Olympics and more concerned about getting O'Hare to run like a major airport should.