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53
In most cases occupiers co-operate heartily in this work, but all
too often people still dispose of waste food in the most convenient manner
for the rat, and thus provide it with a safe alternative to the Council's
poison.
The increase by breeding of rats is in direct proportion to the amount
of food available; a shortage of food soon leads to shortage in numbers.
This is another very good reason for care in the disposal of waste, a point
stressed in the new pamphlet issued by the Department.
Excessive fear and horror of rats causes some people to give less
assistance than they might. I try to overcome this by pointing out
that traps with dead rats left therein are wasted, and show that it is
possible to remove the dead bodies and reset the traps without actually
touching the rat. In this way, the trap may be doing useful work all
the time, and not lying dormant until your Rat Officer calls to reset it.
This form of propaganda is, I am glad to say, not always useless.
On occasions, I have instances of rats appearing to avoid the poison
baits and traps. I think this is often due to them having taken less
than a lethal dose, the consequent discomfort making them wary. I
am hoping to overcome this by use of an alternative poison bait.
In many cases, owners have co-operated in tracing the source of
rats by taking up floors to expose the runs.
The Council's powers under the Public Health Act, to uncover
and examine drains, has been taken full advantage of in tracing the
source of rats, and the willing co-operation of the Borough Engineer's
staff has been most helpful.