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118
RODENT CONTROL
During the year the Council lost the services (through retirement)
of two rodent operatives, both of whom had served the Council well over
a period of many years. One was Mr. J. H. Jackson who, on retirement,
left the district to live in Durham and the other was Mr. C. Parodine.
Mr. Parodine, a very wellknown personality in the Pinner area, is still,
I am pleased to say, residing in the district and thus able to make his local
knowledge available to the Department.
In the Reports for 1967 and 1968 reference was made to these pending
retirements and to the difficulties that had been experienced in obtaining
the services of rodent operatives. Reference was also made to the placing
of disinfestation work in the hands of a contractor. The services provided
by the contractor have proved to be very satisfactory and during the year
the contract was extended to cover more of the district.
The number of complaints dealt with was 1,753, which represents an
increase of 166 on the previous year but is 176 fewer than during 1967.
No major infestations were reported or found during the surveys that
were made and as regards the general position I do not think I can do
better than quote from the 1968 report:—
"The records, over a number of years, also indicate that the rodent
population of a district bears a relationship to the amount of food that
is available and the cover that exists for nesting. The food supply is
generously provided by the many well-meaning bird and animal lovers
who so regularly cast food scraps around without a moment's thought of
either rats or other vermin, while the indiscriminate dumping of rubbish
and litter and the hoarding of unwanted material in yards and around
sheds provides the cover. The situation is not likely to alter until there is a
marked change as regards these two basic factors."
PIGEONS
Work in connection with the control of feral pigeons continued
throughout the year and, compared with many districts in the London
area, the number of pigeons has been reduced to reasonable limits. It is
surprising, however, how rapidly areas that have been cleared can become
reinfested and there is no doubt, if the pigeon population is to be kept
under control, the service as now provided will have to continue.
WASPS
The year, as regards complaints about these pests, was above average,
the number received being 583. While this figure is well below that for the
peak year, 1965, when 859 complaints were received, it exceeds the
number received during 1968 by 381. No serious difficulties were encountered
in dealing with the nests, apart from those located in spaces
difficult of access, e.g. under eaves and in confined roof spaces.