One-woman infestation: 'Rat Girl' has released thousands of rodents on to the streets of San Francisco – and officials say they're powerless to stop her

• The 'troubled' woman is known only as 43-year-old 'Erica J' to officials
• It is believed she has been releasing the rats into streets for years
• Authorities now say they're powerless to stop her one-woman infestation
  

By AMANDA WILLIAMS

PUBLISHED: 05:58 EST, 2 June 2014 | UPDATED: 12:39 EST, 2 June 2014

A woman dubbed 'rat girl' has single-handedly launched an infestation of San Francisco after releasing thousands of rodents on to the streets of the city.

The woman - known only as 43-year-old Erica J - has reportedly been breeding and releasing the vermin into the area for years.

She was first found releasing hundreds of rats into the streets around a hotel in the South of Market neighbourhood, in 2011.

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A woman dubbed 'rat girl' has single-handedly launched an infestation of San Francisco after releasing thousands of rodents on to the streets of the city

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The woman - known only as 43-year-old Erica J - has reportedly been breeding and releasing the vermin into the area for years

SFGate reports that public health officials had exterminated thousands of the creatures, from the surrounding area by the end of May.

Later, Animal Care and Control found the 'troubled woman' living under a pedestrian bridge in Japantown.

KTVU reported that the rats were living off a cart that the woman had with her.

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San Franciscan authorities said they are now at a loss as to what to do about Erica, as they fear there is a serious underlying mental health condition leading to her unusual hobby

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Animal Care and Control Capt Denise BonGiovanni said that the situation is probably going to continue wherever she lives until she gets the help that she needs

Erica was then later spotted with at least eight rats in a park at Golden Gate Avenue and Steiner Street, where the rats were apparently seen eating dog food out of a bowl.

San Franciscan authorities said they are now at a loss as to what to do about Erica, as they fear there is a serious underlying mental health condition leading to her unusual hobby.

Animal Care and Control Capt. Denise BonGiovanni told the television station: 'We understand that Erica has housing again in the city and I can only imagine that this situation is probably going to continue wherever she lives until she gets the help that she needs.'

SAN FRANCISCO: Authorities struggle to keep tabs on...

While authorities are trying to keep track of a Bay Area woman who was breeding rats in her room at a San Francisco residential hotel and releasing them in public parks, they say their hands are tied as far as trying to...

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i like rats, cause they're super smart and make great pets. that being said, what she's doing is not great for the rats, not to mention the people and the city. i'm surprised the law can't put an end to her hobby

That's San Francisco 4 ya. I understand that mentally ill people do have rights but in San Fran you can get away with just about anything.

I love my city but they(citizens and leaders alike) be tripping sometimes.

Well at least she's good at her hobby! Good for her!

Good thing I don't live there.

She is purposely sending hundreds of rats to their extermination. Animal cruelty doesn't apply here? Why? They aren't cute enough. Obviously something could be done if somebody honestly wanted to do something.