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41.
honeycombed with rat runs, the various plant growths providing
ample cover. The derelict site beggars description. Here the
neglected rockery, although not so wide, was built up to a height of
7 or 8 feet and was covered with weeds in some cases 6 feet high.
It was a hive of industry so far as rats were concerned, and it undoubtedly
housed scores. Further investigations showed that eleven
other adjacent properties were infested, but, in all cases except one to
a far lesser degree.
The main infestation centred round the two houses already
mentioned.
The other infestations were off-shoots of a rapidly growing colony.
The " blitzed " house presented a problem in ratproofing which
must remain unanswered until war damage repair is complete.
It was decided to commence a poisoning campaign on the 5th
August, 1947, to embrace all the 13 properties affected. These
properties, 12 of which were occupied, all had large grounds and some
of the occupiers kept poultry and rabbits, etc. 180 prebait points
were laid. Sausage rusk formed the prebait, about 3 ozs. to each
point. Prebaiting was carried on for three days. On the third day
of prebaiting 72 Full Takes, 62 Good Takes, 16 Small Takes and 30
No Takes were recorded. It was decided to lay 161 poison points
and where prebait takes had been in close proximity to poultry runs,
etc., Red Squill was used. This poison is harmless to domestic
animals and poultry. At other points (which were the majority)
Zinc Phosphide was used. Poison takes were as follows :—
7 Full Takes ; 92 Good Takes ; 32 Small Takes ; 38 No Takes.
The number of bodies found was small, and obviously had no
relation to the number of rats actually killed. Post bait was laid with
the following resulting takes :—
0 Full Takes ; 18 Good Takes ; 28 Small Takes ; 87 No Takes.
It was evident from these figures that we had reduced the infestation,
but were still a long way from overcoming it. Incidentally,
we had narrowed the concentration down to the original centre of
infestation, namely, two houses.
A second operation was commenced on the 25th August, 1947—
bread mash was the prebait arsenic the poison. On the third day
of prebaiting 79 points gave the following result:—
14 Full Takes ; 30 Good Takes; 24 Small Takes ; 11 No Takes.
Poison points laid numbered 75 and produced this result:—
0 Full Takes; 31 Good Takes ; 24 Small Takes ; 20 No Takes.
Post Bait Takes were as follows:—
2 Full Takes; 8 Good Takes; 15 Small Takes; 51 No Takes.
The infestation was thus further reduced, but it was obvious that
rats still remained, and the work could not be left.
We had now used the three " routine " poisons, and it was decided
to seek the Ministry's assistance to enable the use of " Antu "
(Alpha-Naphthyl-Thio-Urea). This poison, known to be highly
effective against the common rat, has only recently become available.
It is recommended that treatments with the poison should be done