A rat problem in Royal Oak reportedly has city officials and residents fighting back.

RAT PROBLEM Tips To Help Reduce Rat Problem: Clean up after dogs, as animal droppings are a food source. Bring in water bowls left outside for pets. Keep lids on trash bins and enclose compost piles. Keep wood piles 18 inches off the ground to prevent nesting. Call an exterminator if you see holes in the ground not caused by your pet. Source: The Daily Tribune

The rats are plaguing the area bordered by12 Mile Road, Woodward Avenue, Washington Avenue and Catalpa, according to a report in The Daily Tribune. They are believed to be coming from an infestation at 11 Mile Road and Washington Avenue where an old car business was torn down, the paper reported.

Resident Donna Shipman told the paper that she has trashed her compost bin as it was "being used as heat for their nursery and cafeteria." She said the rats are huge.

City Commissioner Thomas Hallock said the rats have migrated, but Crooks Road seems to be the boundary as the rats get hit by cars as they try to cross the road, according to the paper.

The city's plan to attack the problem includes informing homeowners with evidence of rats to hire an exterminator, having stricter regulations of compost piles and requiring that all property owners who plan to demolish a building first fumigate the area, the paper reported.

Royal Oak building official Kelly Winters said homeowners would first be asked permission for their property to be accessed regarding the problem.

Winters said getting rid of bird and squirrel feeders should also help reduce the problems.