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Section 7
PEST INFESTATION CONTROL
(a) Rodent Control
Four hundred and twenty sewer manholes in the Borough were baited with
Sodium Fluoracetate, also known as 1080, in order to control the rat population in
the sewers. It is difficult to assess accurately the result of this treatment although
there can be no doubt that this activity, combined with regular surface baiting carried
out by the Council's Rodent Operative, has effectively controlled the rat population.
Table 23 is an extract from the Annual Report submitted to the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the year 1962.
(b) Disinfestation of Verminous Premises.
During the year fourteen premises were found to be verminous, all of which
were successfully treated with insecticidal spray, and there has been no recurrence
or evidence of vermin since.
(c) Insect Pests
The mobile spraying unit was again used during the summer months to control
insect life of all kinds. In recent years gnats and mosquitoes appear to have emerged
as a greater nuisance than the house fly, although in this country the latter is
far more likely to be a disease vector.
To control gnats and mosquitoes more attention will need to be given to small
pools of water and streams which are the breeding grounds. The elimination of pools
and the clearing of weeds from ditches can be far more effective than spraying.
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