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57
RODENT CONTROL - The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
The destruction of rats and mice is one of the important aspects
of the work of the Public Health Department and these duties are carried
out by two Rodent Officers who work in close co-operation with the Public
Health Inspectors. It is pleasing to report that an excellent relationship
has existed between the Counoil's officers and the owners or occupiers of
premises where treatments have- been carried out.
All complaints of infestations received in the Department are dealt
with expeditiously and the initial inspection is made by the Rodent Officer
as soon as possible after receipt of the complaint, especially where rats
are concerned.
Two sewer campaigns were carried out during the year (in the Spring
and Autumn) and valuable assistance was rendered by the sewermen of the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department. It is evident by the consistent bait
takes that these campaigns were fully justified resulting in the reduction of
the rat population in the sewers to the lowest possible level. It is,
in practice, impossible to completely free the sewers of rats, but it is at
least possible to control their numbers.
Large numbers of rat infestations during the past few years have been
traced to defective frontage drains (the section of drain between the
interceptor and the sewer), and such infestations have been completely
eradicated on the reconstruction or repair of the defective drains.