HOWLAND, Maine (WABI) - Howland hosted a board of selectmen meeting Monday night where the subject of conversation was the town’s ongoing rat problem.

The board hosted speakers from the Maine Department of Agriculture, conservation and forestry, and took questions from concerned residents.

The problem started after a convenience store was demolished in 2023, and contractors reported seeing a large wave of rats escape the building. Now, over the last three years there have been complaints of rat sightings at seven different locations.

According to residents, the rats are living in surrounding buildings that have been abandoned. Some residents voiced their frustrations as the rat infestation has found its way to their residences.

“Never have I ever, and I was raised in this own, have I s

See Full Page