Rats and mice seem an endemic problem (in Boston) as are mosquitoes (in Pisa) and so on in many cities all over the world.
Rats and tiger mosquitoes are among the 100 more infesting species.
Why the local administrations do not take care of the problem? The cost sustained individually by citizens altogether for self-protection, would probably exceed that of a hypothetical central coordinated action, which would be certainly more effective, if not also less costly.
Another solution for rodents are (stray) cats, like there are many in Rome (in the Italian version of the Disney's Aristocats O'Malley is named "Romeo er mejo der Colosseo" to remind the many cats wandering around ancient Roman ruins and the Coliseum) but they would not probably survive the winter in cold cities like Boston.
Please put your straightforward solution in the comments, if you have one.
