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7. PEST CONTROL
(a) The rodent control staff have again had a busy year as the following figures
show: —
1968 1967
No. of complaints received 1353 1381
No. of infestations found 1040 899
Total number of visits 8444 6584
As forecast in my last annual report, direct poisoning by the use of Fluoracetamide
is now in operation for all sewers in the Borough. Four treatments were carried out
in the Richmond/Barnes area, but only two treatments were considered necessary in
the Twickenham area. It is evident that infestation of the sewers is not increasing and
we are now getting the benefit of systematic treatment over the years. The staff of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have again been most helpful particularly
in providing courses for the training of rodent operatives.
During the year a mapping technique was introduced to record rat infestations
reported to the Department. This now provides a visible picture of the rodent control
problem over the whole Borough. In addition the results of the December baiting of
10% of the sewer manholes has been superimposed on this map which serves to relate
sewer with surface infestations.
It is perhaps a little early to draw firm conclusions at this stage but preliminary
impressions suggest that perhaps the importance of the sewers as a reservoir has been
rather over-estimated and that too little emphasis may have been placed on river banks
(including the tributory rivers), railway embankments and open areas of land as
breeding grounds.
Areas of vacant land include sites on which older properties have been demolished
to make way for new developments and here a special problem clearly arises viz: the
failure properly to seal off the old drains of demolished buildings. All demolition contractors
are advised by the Borough Engineer of their legal obligations under the Public
Health Act, 1961 to ensure that any disused drains are properly disconnected and
sealed but it is suspected that all too often this requirement is given scant attention
particularly where the lines of drains are difficult to establish and have no access manholes.
Cases are occurring of new properties being rat infested because buried and
unsealed drains are still connected to rat infested sewers.
The dumping of rubbish, not infrequently kitchen refuse containing food material,
on areas of vacant land and the indiscriminate scattering of food scraps to feed birds
are practices which are continuing to provide encouragement to rodents. In one case,
although a resident had taken the precaution of providing a tray raised on a long pole
for feeding the birds, she subsequently saw a rat sitting happily on the tray enjoying
the food.
(b) A number of complaints have again been received of grey squirrels invading
roof spaces, and in some cases this has occurred in nearly new houses. This can be
brought about by occupiers feeding and encouraging the squirrels. Most people are
now realising, sometimes through painful experience, that these animals can be a serious
nuisance. All complaints are investigated and advice given to occupiers, but eradication
from a building can be a difficult and costly business.
(c) In June this year the Council approved a contract being entered into with
a specialist firm for action to be taken under Section 74 of the Public Health Act, 1961
to abate or mitigate the nuisance from pigeons in Richmond Town Centre and Twickenham
Town Centre at an estimated cost of £360. Trapping was commenced in
October and at the end of the year 573 pigeons had been trapped and humanely
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