DUTCH HARBOR -- It seems that everyone in Dutch Harbor has a rat story -- rats in stoves, rats in crab pots, even rats in the toilet.

To hear the stories, you'd think that rats were running the streets at will, in daylight and completely without fear, yet residents say that catching sight of the creatures is rare.

Unless your name is Fernando Barrera.

"They're everywhere. You may not see them, but wherever there is food, they will be there. Wherever there is a Dumpster, they are there," said Barrera, a safety inspector with the facilities maintenance department at UniSea.

Barrera has sought out and exterminated rats in processing plants, hotels and bunkhouses for 12 years. It's not Barrera's only job, but it is his biggest one.

"Especially during the winter they'll go anywhere that's warm ... once you see one (rodent), you know there are more than that," he said.

The rats of Dutch Harbor, which are largely of the Norway variety, were not always on the island. When ships began sailing to the Aleutians, they inadvertently brought the animals with them.

Since then, the rats have successfully adapted to life in Alaska and have proliferated. In addition, more of them are introduced every time a rat-infested ship docks in the harbor.

However, soon Barrera won't be the only the one making island living more difficult for the rodents. Last September, the Alaska Board of Game's newly adopted anti-rat regulations became law. If the new regulations are effective, Dutch will no longer be a safe harbor for the wily stowaways.

Alaska's new rat law forbids vessel operators to harbor rats or mice -- regardless of whether they know that the rodents are aboard. The regulation also requires the harbors, ports, airports and food-processing facility operators to develop ongoing rodent control plan.

In the case of Dutch Harbor, the rats that concern agencies such as the Alaska Maritime National Wilderness Refuge are not the ones jumping off boats, but the ones climbing aboard.

"The big issue is that the harbor has so many rats and the rats are getting on the boats," said Poppy Benson, public programs supervisor with refuge.

"We're concerned that the boats are going to bring the rats to the other islands, such as the Pribilofs, that are rat-free. That's not to say (the rats) are all from Dutch, but Dutch Harbor is the greatest risk because so many of the boats stop there."

The credit for the rat-free status of the Pribilof Islands is largely due to an aggressive island defense program, administered by the tribal government. Bait stations line the harbor and the city has banned rat-infested ships from its waters and docks.

City officials can inspect and eject vessels from the harbors and local commercial fish processors are required to have rodent prevention programs.

In Dutch Harbor, no such plan is in place. John Days, harbor master of the port of Dutch Harbor, said that rodent control is largely left up to crews on the boats.

"Most of the foreign vessels put up round pieces of metal to prevent the rats from running down the ropes," Days said. "And we police ourselves as best we can."

Days and the port could expect some help from the state soon, according to Ellen Fritts, habitat biologist with the wildlife conservation division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Fritts wrote Fish and Game's rat control plan. Fritts said that the discussion of how the regulation will be enforced is still to come. In the meantime, the department is focused on raising awareness by giving presentations and pursuing other education efforts.

The refuge has a Web site where state residents can order a free "rat kit," which includes rat traps and an "entertaining and educational DVD."

Fish and Game has also contracted Terry Johnson, a Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program agent, to write a manual to help ports and harbors deal with their pest problems.

As research, Johnson traveled to a place that some believe to be the rat capital of the world: New York City. There, Johnson attended "Rat Academy," the New York City Rodent Control Academy. He studied topics such as "treating Norway rat burrows" and "alternative tools and techniques for rat control" and was taught by New York City pest control officials, experts that Johnson said have a "lifelong, intimate knowledge of rats."

Johnson believes that rat control efforts will fail if they target only the rodents in the harbor.

"Ports in most places are contiguous with the municipality and are physically adjoining fish-processing facilities," Johnson said. "Even with the most conscientious port master -- one that really puts the hurt on those rats -- there will still be rats in the environment. What's really required is a community-wide effort for this to be effective."

This may be the beginning of the end for the rats of Dutch Harbor. But while many look forward to an eradication of rodent residents, others have found a use for them.

"I skinned them out and had them tanned and made them into hats," said Abi Woodbridge, whose basement was overrun several years ago. "Most people don't know it, but their fur is very soft, really beautiful ... and also very warm."