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country but, what is more important, is the Warfarin resistance
in mice which is much more diffuse.
It would seem that resistance is inherited as a single, dominant,
autosomal gene and that the heterozygotes for resistance require
twice the normal amount of Vitamin K (that for promoting the
clotting of blood) whereas the homozygotes need 20 times as much.
It is the use of anti-coagulant poisons which has favoured the
selective breeding of a rat which, in normal circumstances, would
be at a genetic disadvantage resulting from its higher demand for
Vitamin K and its slower rate of propagation.
This genetic change has presented a challenge to the rodent
control staff but because of the effectiveness of anti-coagulants in
rodent control over the past two decades, few alternative satisfactory
poisons have been developed. The situation has been met by
using substances such as the narcotic Alphachloralose and various
rodenticidal dusts. Acute poisons such as zince phosphide and
arsenic have been used on a limited number of occasions where it
was considered there was no risk of danger to the public.
The use of these alternative methods of control has however,
increased both the time required and the number of visits carried
out by the rodent control staff in order successfully to rid the
premises of the infestations.
Control of Foxes
Services previously undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food with respect to the control of foxes in the
Borough were withdrawn and, in June of the current year, the
Council appointed a part-time fox control specialist to deal with
the problem.
During 1970, 33 complaints were received and, where foxes were
located, the specialist was notified in order that he could take the
required action. Since his appointment he has visited 13 sites in
the Eltham, New Eltham and Shooters Hill areas and destroyed 17
foxes.
There is mounting evidence that foxes in urban areas are on the
increase and this would appear to be the case in South East
London.
Fouling of Pavements, etc., by Dogs
During the year 58 complaints were received of dogs fouling
footpaths and, in an attempt to ameliorate the problem, 149
notices were fixed to lamp-posts in the areas concerned setting
out briefly the provisions off the Council's byelaw with respect to
the offence and penalty.