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RODENT CONTROL
The opinion given in my Annual Report last year that the rat
population had been considerably reduced by the use of sodium
fluoroacetate and warfarin in the treatment of sewers is confirmed
by the number of infestations by rats reported in the Borough during
1960 reaching the low figure of 110, by comparison with the figure
of 207 for 1959. Of the 110 reported surface infestations no
evidence of rats was found in 28 instances and the majority of the
82 referred to stray rats. There were no major infestations.
Once again the final assessment of the year's work on the
sewers is provided by the result of warfarin treatment commenced in
October 1960. This treatment, which entails three visits to each of
the selected baiting points - and 1196 were treated - is spread
over some five weeks and was concluded towards the end of November
1960. It is interesting to note that during the time from 19th
November 1960, when the treatment ended, until the end of the year
(some 6 weeks) only 8 reports of rats were received.
The percentage of "takes" in the sewers during the warfarin
treatment was between 1.1% and 6.9% and once more the difference
between these figures refers to some 83 feeding points where poison
bait was disturbed and the reading was therefore uncertain.
Comparative figures on surface infestations for 1959 and 1960
are as follows
1960 1959
January - March 21 59
April - June 25 74
July - September 37 50
October - December 27 24
110 207
24