View report page

RODENT CONTROL
Mr. J. Carter, the Rodent Officer, reports as follows:—
In compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, it is the
duty of every Local Authority to take such steps as may be necessary to secure as far as
practicable that their district is kept free from rats and mice and in particular:—
(a) from time to time to carry out such inspections as may be necessary for the purpose
aforesaid;
(b) to destroy rats and mice on land of which they are the occupier and otherwise to keep
such land so far as practicable free from rats and mice;
(c) to enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land under Part 1 of this Act, and to
carry out such operations as are authorised by those provisions;
(d) to keep such records and make such reports relating to their functions under this part
of this Act as may be required by any directions given by the Minister of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
For the purpose of implementing the aforementioned provis:ons, organisation and procedure
of the Rodent Control Department was similar to that of previous years, and comprised inspection
of properties to ascertain the presence of infestation by rats and/or mice, treatment of any such
properties found to be infested, recommendation of structural and incidental proofing, and
periodical maintenance control measures for the destruction of rats in the City sewers.
No problem has arisen necessitating statutory action to resolve the difficulty and the
response to the policy of seeking the co-operation of owners and occupiers has been satisfactory.
A total of 5,199 occupancies and properties were inspected, such properties ranging from
new buildings in the course of construction, riverside food warehouses, public and private
catering establishments, offices, shops and factories, to domestic dwellings.
Altogether 523 infestations were subject of control measures, and of this number 291 infestations
were notified by occupiers or owners and 232 infestations were found on inspection.
This total comprised 2 major and 54 minor infestations of rats, and 36 major and 431 minor
infestations of mice. Treatment of these infestations entailed 4,497 visits for operational
purposes.
In the application of control measures for rat infestation, 3,034 pre-baits and 336 poison
baits were laid. These measures resulted in an estimated kill of 343 rats, and of this number
207 bodies were removed from premises. The use of Warfarin anti-coagulant rodenticide for the
control of mice resulted in 1,012 bodies being found. No records are available of the results
obtained by Pest Control undertakings servicing premises periodically.
The downward trend of rat infestation manifest in recent years continued and a further
decline in the number of infestations found and treated, and the numerical quality of the same
has been experienced. The number of major infestations (20 rats or over) was 5 less than the
previous year (7) and in both instances these were border line infestations, just qualifying for
this category. In the minor classification there was a reduction of 51% (54 as against 105 the
previous year). The majority of these infestations were principally of Ship (Black) rat character,
and were numerically well within the range of the minor classification. Such infestations have
a high nuisance value and often entail greater assiduity in respect of inspection and control
measures than major infestations distributed over a similar area.
This is emphasized more especially in new buildings where the odd rat or two, in search of
food and water, traverses the long tortuous ducts, leaving a trail of very slight and spasmodic
evidence anywhere between the basement and roof, and it is only by meticulous and methodical
inspection that the evidence is revealed and the best baiting sites selected. It is no trouble
for this species of rat, with its climbing abilities, to traverse great distances along ducts and
up lift shaft ropes and guides, often as many as ten floors or more, as unrestricted movement is
necessary for its well being.
In reviewing the present situation a general perspective is necessary, the City having
boundaries with five Metropolitan Boroughs,and a considerable riverside frontage of warehouses.
In respect of the riverside, the Port Health Authority, by exercise of its functions relative
to control of rat infestation in ships and lighters, makes a contribution of primary importance by
minimising the possibility of re-infestation by Ship (Black) rats of shore premises from vessels
and lighters discharging cargo alongside riverside wharves. Likewise, by their efforts the
Rodent Control organisations of contiguous Local Authorities have similarly contributed to the
overall plan of rodent control, and to this must be added the contribution of the commercial
servicing undertakings.
Infestation of Common (Brown) rat character was again on a very minor scale and mainly
confined to new buildings in the course of construction, which offer every facility and are in
every way conducive to infestation. All sites in progress were inspected periodically and anyaction
found necessary was taken, and the fullest co-operation has been received from the various
contractors.
11