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the remainder of the year but with improved wage levels it seemed possible as the year
closed that the vacancy might be filled and the work, it is confidently hoped, may be
resumed in 1971.
Contingency planning had been undertaken to deal with the possible environmental
health problems arising from the strike of Council manual workers especially
with regard to the accumulations of refuse. Both authorised and unauthorised dumps
of rubbish were expected to provide an encouragement to rat activity. In practice,
however, the problems in the field proved to be minimal At some unauthorised dumps
rats were observed raiding the rubbish but no major infestations developed. It was
perhaps fortunate that the strike occurred at that time of the year when infestation
reports are usually at their lowest point.
An anxious enquiry was received during the year from a veterinarian into the
character of the materials used in our rodent control work and their possible effect on
domestic pets particularly dogs and cats. This is an aspect upon which residents occasionally
express their anxiety and concern. It cannot therefore be too often stated that,
with the sole exception of the sewers, no acute poisons are laid and the poisons used
are designed to be specific for rats or mice and are used in concentrations relative to
the body weight of the rodents. A dog or cat would therefore have to consume very
large quantities of the cereal/poison mixture before suffering any ill effects. The
amounts of poison laid do not make this possible in normal circumstances. Nevertheless,
precautions are taken to site the bait in positions largely inaccessible to domestic pets,
e.g. well within the rat holes or in small bore portions of piping. No report of injury
to cats or dogs has been received by this Department which could be attributed to the
materials used in rodent control.
The use of warfarin in the control of mice infestations has become largely ineffective
and recourse has now been made to the use of Alphachloralose. Using this
bait some very effective results have been obtained. In the case of one old licensed
premises numerous bodies were picked up and the extensive infestation appears to have
been satisfactorily dealt with. Nevertheless, it remains a fact that most mice infestations
require the expenditure of many more man-hours to effect a clearance than do most rat
infestations.
In the ever-widening environment of concrete and brick in which we live one can
have considerable sympathy with those amongst us who struggle to maintain contact
with the natural world. One manifestation of this urge is the wide tendency to feed
the birds. Ornithologically speaking, except under the harshest winter conditions, there
is no real need for the provision of food for birds and one assumes that the fundamental
wish is to attract natural bird life into the private garden. Whilst understanding these
motives it is as well to emphasise again that the indiscriminate scattering of stale bread
on the lawn or similar practices can attract much less welcome visitors amongst the
wild life. Residents whose roofs have become permanent roosts for pigeons or who
have suffered from the effects of squirrels in the roof space will testify to the problems
they cause. There is an even greater likelihood of attracting rats and the number of
such infestations under garden sheds, in rockeries or "compost heaps" testifies to the
existence of a problem which shows no signs of diminishing. If the urge to feed the
birds is irresistible it is suggested that the better course is to use either the suspended
net bag holding bird food or the suspended tray or platform on a pole. It is important
to add that the tray or platform should have sides to prevent spillage and scatter of
the food on to the ground during feeding.
The charges for rodent control work at non-domestic premises (domestic property
is of course treated free of charge) had to be increased during the year because of
increased costs and wages. The charge remains modest at an all-inclusive £1 6s. Od.
per hour and the average contract is for 3 months at an estimated cost of £6 10s. for
10 ^-hourly visits. There is occasional resentment at this charge amongst occupiers of
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