The company that owns the Bridgeton Landfill is offering to cover the cost of hotel stays for nearby residents who want to get away from the smell.
On Tuesday, Republic Services sent a letter to 270 households within a one-mile radius of the landfill, saying the company would pay for residents to move to a pet-friendly hotel between May 20 and June 14.
Camels are known for their ability to travel long distances across the desert without water.
But they’re also becoming an increasingly important source of milk for people in drought-prone regions. That includes East African countries like Kenya, where camel numbers have skyrocketed over the past few decades.
But introducing camels — or any species — to a new region, could mean bringing in new diseases.
The St. Louis Zoo has been studying camel diseases in Kenya to help assess their risks.