The ‘rat hole,’ a peculiar imprint on a Chicago sidewalk in the North Side neighborhood of Roscoe Village, has been removed by city officials. The imprint, resembling the outline of a rat complete with claws and a tail, had been a local curiosity for years but gained widespread attention in January when a Chicago comedian shared a photo on social media. The newfound fame brought unwanted attention to the neighborhood, as visitors flocked to the site at all hours, leaving behind coins and other items. Many residents argued that the imprint was actually caused by a squirrel rather than a rat.
Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation, stated that the sidewalk square containing the ‘famous `Chicago rat hole” is currently in temporary storage. The ultimate destination of the slab, which bears the distinctive impression, is expected to be determined through a collaborative decision between city departments and the mayor’s office.
Schroeder confirmed that the rat hole section, along with other portions of the sidewalk along Roscoe Street, were removed on Wednesday morning due to damage. Georgina Ulrich, a neighbor, captured footage of crews using a concrete saw, forklift, and truck to remove the slab. ‘All this for a rat imprint,’ Ulrich remarked in one of the video clips. New concrete has since been poured.
Alderman Scott Waguespack’s office had reportedly received numerous complaints from neighbors over the past several months. Residents expressed concerns about the uneven sidewalk conditions as well as the crowds gathering to view and photograph the rat hole. Paul Sajovec, Waguespack’s chief of staff, stated that the combination of the uneven surface and the excessive noise and disruptions caused by visitors prompted the removal.
In January, an attempt was made to fill in the rat hole with a white plaster-like material, but fans quickly dug it out. Chicago resident Winslow Dumaine informed the Chicago Tribune that neighbors believed the imprint had been present for nearly two decades. The removal of the ‘rat hole’ has elicited mixed reactions, with some residents expressing disappointment and others supporting the decision due to the nuisance it had become.
