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PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT,1949,
As in previous years the policy of tracing the source of rat infestation as well as
treating the infested premises, has been continued throughout the year with some success.
The Sanitary Inspectors carried out 152 tests to drainage systems suspected of
harbouring rat infestation and those drains and/or sewers found defective were repaired or
re-constructed.
The Rodent Control Section has carried out 1,259 inspections of dwelling houses, of
which 739 were rat infested and 520 mice infested; 76 visits were paid to Local Authority
properties and of these 50 were rat infested and 26 mice Infested; the number of industrial
and business premises visited was 184, of these 120 proved to be infested with rats and 64
with mice; miscellaneous visits and premises not able to be treated for one reason or another,
or found to be not infested totalled 36.
One Notice under Section 4 of the Act was served.
The Statistics relating to the activities of the Rodent Control and Disinfestation
and Disinfection Section are tabulated In Tables I - III.
Special Investigations. During the year two unusual investigations and treatments were
carried out, and are detailed herewith:-
(a) Carpenters' Road Area. Following confirmation of large scale rat infestation of
this area, in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, a committee of
factory occupiers was formed and a large scale operation was set in motion. This proved to
be the largest block control operation ever undertaken with the use of Warfarin. The Rodent
Control Section carried out the investigations and bait layout etc., and eventually the firms
concerned had operatives of their own trained by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
who then worked with the Council staff. At the end of the operation, the Rodent Control
staff continued to keep a sharp look out for any further re-Infestation. For the actual
operation 370 lbs. of bait was used, and although comparatively few bodies were actually
found, the result was a 100% clearance, so much so that up to the end of December only two
minor infestations by mice have been reported.
(b) Fyfleld Residential Open-Air School. Complaint was received of infestation and
damage by rats. Investigation revealed widespread infestation of the boundary hedges etc.,
sewage disposal plant and under various store sheds and similar buildings. An operation was
Instituted which lasted approximately 10 days, using Cyanide gas, Warfarin and Zinc Phosphide
and over 100 bodies were found within the first week. Post baiting revealed a complete
elimination, but a pair of rats attempted to make a store shed their headquarters about a
fortnight later, but were quickly detected and poisoned.
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