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Is the city responsible for an overgrown tree filled with rats in Ocean Beach?

Rodents are making themselves at home in an overgrown tree in OB.

SAN DIEGO —

Rodents are making themselves at home in an overgrown tree. Neighbors in Ocean Beach aren’t exactly thrilled about rats living in the ivy-covered tree. Of course, there’s also the anxiety about what could happen on a windy day that makes the tree shake. 

"It could slip down and crush the homeowner," said Kitty Belmonte, who lives just west of the palm tree.

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"We've got everything that lives up there [like] mice, rats, opossums, raccoons [and] skunks," said Chris Taylor, who lives east of the tree.

So, is this tree the city’s responsibility? News 8’s Shawn Styles looked into it. 

News 8 reached out the San Diego County Vector Control and the City of San Diego. 

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The city did contact News 8 and said that planting invasive plants like ivy on city property is illegal, thus, the ivy is not its responsibility. The city will send a notice to the tree owner to remove it within 30 days. 

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