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36
RODENT INFESTATION.
This report reviews the work done by the Rodent Section of the
Health Department during the period 1st January to 31st December,1948.
The staff of this section consists of one supervisor, one
investigator and four operators under the general control of the Chief
Sanitary Inspector. During the year it was found that the larger number
of complaints were received from occupiers of dwelling houses, and were
mainly due to mice infestation.
The chief infestation in the Borough is caused by the black rat,
more commonly known as the ship rat. This rodent has migratory nature
and does not always nest in the buildings where he feeds, is a good
climber and often nests in roof spaces and other inaccessible places.
Unlike the common rat it does not form defined habits and in consequence
it is a very difficult type to cope with, and constant war has to be
waged in keeping this type of rat population down to the absolute
minimum.
The servicing given is that laid down by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries, Infestation Branch, and in the case of business premises,
the operation is completed in two distinct periods, carried over a
period of three weeks, requiring in all twelve separate visits of
inspection.
The number of premises dealt with in the period under review totals
786, being divided as follows
Business Premises 308
Dwellings 478
786
Treatment of the sewers was carried out in the periods 31st May to
22nd June and 6th to 14th December. During these operations a Technical
Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries was present for the
first half of the treatment. The result of this maintenance treatment
shows a marked decrease in the sewer rat population compared with the
results of treatments given in previous years.
The following is a summary of the work carried out during the perioc
of review:—