By Lora Kallenberg
It is that time again for your resident rat news reporter (me, Lora Kallenberg) to clue you into the newest development on U.S. rat cultures. This time we take our focus to Chicago, Illinois, moving away from New York City (the city which declared war on rats). In hindsight, Chicago should’ve been the focus of my rat reporting from the start. Chicago is considered the rat capital of the world, ranking No. 1 as the world’s most rat infested city according to the pest-control site Orkin. Nevertheless, I am here now to discuss the recent viral sensation: the Chicago rat hole.
Over the weekend, my TikTok For You Page and Twitter timeline were both flooded with images, videos, and discussions of the marvel that is the Chicago rat hole. Seeing news of a new rat meme, I knew it was my duty to report on it. Since setting out to write this article, I have learned much of the lore surrounding this rat hole, including an intriguing discussion about its origins.
The Chicago rat hole first gained attention after Chicago-based comedian Winslow Dumaine tweeted about his journey to visit it. The post quickly went viral and many people began to make the “pilgrimage” to the rat hole in order to pay respect, leave offerings, and take loads of pictures and videos of the iconic impression in the concrete. In the last week especially, there have been many videos posted showcasing a shrine established by people of the community dedicated to the rat hole.
People have left gifts including money, empty bottles of liquor (typically Malört, a Chicago staple), and estradiol pills or vials (birth control or hormone replacement therapy). Along with the empty bottles, some visitors have gone as far as to “pour one out” directly into the rat hole, the liquor accompanying many coins that have been left in the hole in a sort of wishing well fashion.
Shooters are not the only things that have been poured into the rat hole. On Jan. 19, an unknown perpetrator attempted to fill the hole with plaster in an effort to quell the chaos that the hole inspired. Rat hole appreciators came to the hole’s aid and fished out every bit of plaster, restoring the hole to its former glory. Since this attempted obfuscation, the rat hole’s perseverance has been celebrated. On Jan. 20, a gay wedding was celebrated at the rat hole in addition to a proposal that occurred earlier that same day. The rat hole brought together people from far and wide across the city and became an unofficial landmark for Chicagoans, even getting its own Wikipedia page.
There is a bit of controversy surrounding the origins of this hole. Many people questioned how a rat could possibly have fallen into the concrete. Some argue it doesn’t make sense, as the rat would’ve had to fall from a significant height to make such an impression. There must have been something for it to fall off of, like a tree. Many believe that the rat hole was actually made by a squirrel, the most logical conclusion. Despite this theory, the rat hole has lived on as the “rat hole.”
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. It was not my hope to be reporting actual news on the rat hole — I merely wanted to express how ridiculously fun this “rat happening” was and how wholesome it was that people treated it like an homage to some sort of rat god. But as of Jan. 24, city planners have discussed removing the slab of sidewalk in accordance with complaints received by neighbors. While this means an end to the rat hole, it may find a new home! Some local bars have requested to purchase the slab and keep it in their establishment as their own attraction.
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