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RODENT CONTROL
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 may be
practicable that its district is kept free from rats and mice and in particular:—
(a) from time to time carry out such inspections as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid.
(b) to destroy rats and mice on land of which it is the occupier and otherwise to keep such
land free from rats and mice.
(c) to enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land under Part I of this Act and to
carry out such operations as are authorised by these provisions.
(d) to keep such records and make such reports as may be required by any directions given
by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Compliance with the requirements of the Act comprised inspection of properties to ascertain
the presence of rats and/or mice, treatment where necessary, recommendation of preventive
measures such as structural and incidental proofing, and three-monthly treatments for the destruction
of rats in the City sewers.
A total of 2,641 properties were inspected ranging from comprehensive re-development sites
in the course of construction, multi-occupied blocks of offices, riverside wharves and warehouses,
public and private catering establishments, shops and factories to domestic dwellings.
Although 559 complaints were received either by notification or as a result of inspection,
and of this number 510 infestations were subject to control measures. In 49 instances no action
other than advice was necessary.
The total of 510 infestations requiring remedial measures comprised 5 major and 53 minor
infestations of rats, and 5 major and 447 minor infestations of mice. Of the rat infestations 5
major (21-200) and 52 minor (1-20) were of common rat (Rattus Norvegicus) nature, and the
remainder, 1 minor infestation, came under the Ship (Black) rat or Rattus Rattus classification.
The rat infestations were mainly on building sites and those in the major category (21-200)
were of sufficient numerical density as to be excluded from the minor scale (1-20) although low
in the former scale.
Treatment of these infestations entailed 4,669 visits for operational purposes, and in the
application of control measures 10,829 initial baiting sites were selected for both rats and mice.
For the control of rats 3,393 pre-baits were laid which necessitated the use of 466 poison baits
to finalise the treatments.
These measures resulted in a minimum estimated kill of 529 rats and of this number 246
bodies were recovered and removed from the sites of the operations. Others not included in this
figure were found on elimination of structural or removal of incidental harbourage providing nesting
and breeding facilities.
Treatment of mice infestations entailed the application of 8,015 anti-coagulant poison
baits and 688 bodies were recovered.
In 13 instances structural rat proofing was carried out by owners or occupiers and in 8
cases defective drainage resulting in infestation of surface properties was remedied. Incidental
rat and mouse proofing in the nature of removal of harbourage provided by unnecessary and undisturbed
accumulations or restowing of badly stacked commodities has again received unremitting
attention.
Periodical treatment at 3 monthly intervals for the control of common rats in sewers is of
primary importance in relation to the control of this species in surface properties. It is the purpose
of these measures to ensure that the rat population of the sewers is kept down to the lowest
possible level, thereby preventing infestation of surface properties via defective drainage.
During the period under review, four direct poison treatments with Fluoracetamide ("1081")
were applied in March, June, September and December, and an average of 385 sewer manholes
distributed over 34 miles of traversable sewers were direct poison baited on each occasion,
except in June.
In this instance the annual overall test baiting which provides an indication of the results
of the previous direct poison controls was applied prior to poison baiting and a total of 381
manholes were non-poison test baited, the test baits being left down for two days. These baits,
which in effect act as pre-baits were then examined and where taken replaced by poison baits.
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