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Most of the complaints received are attributable to defective drains and sewers.
When complaints are received, adjoining premises are surveyed and, where necessary,
the drains tested. In addition to 7,435 visits to premises by the rodent control
staff, 1,212 visits in connection with rats and mice were made by the public health
inspectors. In all, 2,698 premises were visited.
For surface treatments anti-coagulant poisons which, when properly applied,
present no hazard to human beings or domestic animals, are used almost exclusively.
Developed immunity to this type of poison is evident in some local authority areas
but there is no evidence of this in the Borough of Enfield.
Unfortunately, because of staff shortages due to sickness and the difficulty of
recruiting rodent operatives, the treatment of sewers for the destruction of rats has
been very limited. Direct poisoning without pre-baiting, using sodium fluoracetamide,
is carried out in the treatment of sewers. To be fully effective, the treatments
should be carried out at three-monthly intervals.
There are several thousand soil sewer manholes in the borough but the rat
population in them varies considerably from one part of the district to another.
Any substantial increase of rats in sewers usually results in increased surface activity
and although no major infestations were found during 1968 it is regretted that it
has not been possible to carry out systematic treatment of the sewers. Many complaints
concerned the sighting of a single rat which may be an indication of a major
infestation so that prompt reporting is appreciated.
With a large rural area within the borough it is to be expected that complaints
will be received concerning a variety of wild life. From time to time complaints
are made to the Department concerning squirrels, rabbits, moles and pigeons. It
is our policy to help wherever possible either in a practical way or by advice and,
if necessary, by the loan of equipment.
The pigeon has now become a serious nuisance and the amount of damage to
growing crops and buildings is considerable. The ferral pigeon, and in some cases
the wood pigeon, have adapted themselves to urban life and their numbers continue
to rise. Many people consider them attractive and encourage their presence by
feeding them. In some cases there is active opposition to attempts to reduce their
numbers.
Thirty treatments were carried out on twenty-five occasions under Section 74
of the Public Health Act, 1961, which empowers a local authority to take steps
for the purpose of abating or mitigating any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused
by the congregation in any built-up area of house doves, pigeons, starlings or
sparrows.
Garden pests continue to be the cause of complaint by householders and 257
wasps' nests together with four bees' nests were destroyed and 100 other insect
infestations were treated.
108