Unalaska, AK – A group of pest control experts is in Unalaska this week helping local businesses and waterfront residents learn how to comply with new state regulations for rat control.

The regulations, which were passed by the state Board of Game last year, require boat and waterfront property owners to take steps to eliminate rat infestations from their property.

"Our main message is that effective long term control of rats and other pests is not a simple matter of putting out some traps and putting out some poison and killing as many as you can," said Terry Johnson with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Marine Advisory Program, which is part of the education effort. "It's integrated pest management, which means making the environment as inhospitable to them as you can."

Johnson said an important first step is learning to see this town in a different way.

"Start viewing your town from the perspective of a rat: 'If I were a rat, how could I use this place?'" he said.

Johnson and the other members of the rat delegation will be holding two information sessions at City Hall Wednesday. One is from 9 to 11 a.m., and aimed at local businesses that own a lot of waterfront space. A second meeting, for the general public, is from 7 to 8 p.m.