In Paris, the sidewalks are now filled with huge rubbish rocks. The garbage workers are striking and do not intend to back down. Rats and mice, for their part, seem to have happy days.

Exterminators are fielding more calls about rodent activity. Rat-related calls are up 20 percent from last year; include mice and calls are up 57 percent.

With less litter on the ground and garbage in Dumpsters behind restaurants, rats are seeking food elsewhere.

Fred Meyer is employing an aggressive pest-control plan after customers spotted mice in the store through Southcentral Alaska’s unusually warm summer.

The Bering Sea island is breeding habitat for millions of seabirds, including rare migratory species. A “strike team” had been searching for the rogue rat for 10 months.

Kayla Desroches/KMXT It looks like it’ll be a ratty season for Kodiak. The rodents are running rampant this year, at least according to one local pest cont

Anchorage can no longer claim to be the largest port city in the Northern Hemisphere without known rat infestations. State biologist Rick Sinnott caught and kille dtwo Norway rats found living at a pond near a South Anchorage school. Professional exterminatiors hired by the city placed more traps at the scene Monday afternoon.