Bristol rat population soars
The rat population in Bristol is soaring to record levels, new figures reveal.
Experts are blaming mild winters and the axing of weekly rubbish bin collections for the rise in numbers.
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Across Bristol last year nearly 5,000 homeowners reported rat infestations - an increase of nearly a third on the previous year.
Others claim fast-food is adding to the problem, as discarded kebabs and burgers lay strewn in city streets overnight.
Extra rat catchers have been employed by Bristol City Council to deal with the problem.
The 4,924 infestations reported in 2007-2008 financial year saw a 29 per cent increase on the 3,817 reports in the previous year.
But the council has denied claims that rotting rubbish was to balme for the surge. It has also pointed out that although non-recyclable rubbish is now collected fortnightly, food scraps in 'caddies' are collected weekly.
Bristol City Council environment manager John Jefferies said: "Bristol City Council recognise that rats are an issue in the city, but the increase in the number of rat sightings in Bristol could be partially attributable to several factors, and not necessarily only to an increase in the rat population.
"Milder winters mean that more of the rat population survive traditionally colder months. The inclement weather experienced in the South West brings more rats out.
"Bristol City Council offers a free service to residents to help deal with rats and the way in which residents can report rat sightings has become easier.
"Bristol City Council have taken on extra staff to ensure they can continue to provide a proactive service and, in partnership with the water authority, undertake treatments of the sewer system."
In North Somerset, the council is reporting no increase in the number of call-outs to rat related incidents.
Iain Turner, a director of the National Pest Technicians Associations (NPTA), a body for pest controllers, said: "What we do know is that in the last two years there has been a significant increase in sales of rodenticides to professionals.
"Almost certainly that is down to the fact we have had two very mild winters. You need cold winters to kill off rats.
"There has also been a big increase in the amount of food litter. You go into any city or town early on a Sunday morning and you see the remains of takeaways everywhere."
Across the UK as a whole infestations have increased by a fifth.
And Rentokil estimates rats have overtaken humans in the population stakes.
The pest control company says there are between 65-80 million rats compared to 60 million humans.
However, it is impossible to calculate an exact figure for the UK's rat population. Some estimates are as high as 100 million.
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by Nick, Worcester
Tuesday, November 04 2008, 7:06PM
“Rats are opportunist, their presence is not necessarily linked to bins etc but this will be a factor if there are odours and spillages. feeding birds in gardens, takeaway cartons will attract them, but one thing they do need is water, and a place to harbour. deny these and they will move on. decking and under sheds are favoured places for them to burrow, as are dense shrubbed areas.
they breed rapidly, gestation completes in a few weeks with the young sexually mature in another six weeks. They are fantastically adaptable, and whilst naturally a ground burrowing creature will nest in roof voids, wall cavities and even thick ivy climbing a house wall.
the best advice is to ensure no rat issues is to provide no food and water availability and that harbourage is detected and removed. Exclusion methods should be used to prevent ingress into buildings. Block holes around pipes etc, fit bristle strip to the base of doors. if you can get your thumb into a hole, a rat could enter. Keep water tanks in roof spaces closed, rats often fall in after water but cant get out out and drown. lovely.
and please, do not feed the birds if rats are in your neighbourhood. if you have to use only non spill feeds.
if poison is your only option for control, DO NOT use grain in open containers, other non target species will consume, including domestic pets, even children have been known to taste the blue stuff.
constantly replenish consumed rodenticide to ensure no sub lethal doses are taken leading to possible resistance.
and search for carcasses, secondary poisoning of birds of prey and other scavenging species must be prevented. and its also a legal requirement.
Essentially its common sense. its the same principle for any good pest mangement-
Exclusion- Keep them out!
Restriction- Remove the reason for them being there.
Destruction- Use the correct products and methods to ensure safe, effective control.
Good luck. Mind you, we're all in the same boat. Only the rats are not leaving this particular sinking ship!”
by bsk, St Andrews
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 9:23PM
“"My bin is professionally cleaned every time it is emptied."
Why?A waste of water IMO. Don't put stuff like food in it. With a food bin, nothing mucky ought to be in the wheelie. I've never had such cleaning and while I wouldn't eat a meal out of it, if everything is properly bagged it shouldn't be a health hazzard.”
by Steven, North Bristol.
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 2:30PM
“It's obvious the presence of a rat has nothing to do with your bin.”
by JoJo, Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 12:38PM
“Steven, I most certainly do not live amongst filth. My bin is professionally cleaned every time it is emptied. My bin is kept on my drive and that is cleaned and washed down at the same time. Rubbish is put in two bags, securely tied, in my bin and we have still had a rat in the house and garden. What more can I do??”
by Steven, North Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 12:05PM
“I live within the jursidiction of Bristol City Council and have never had a problem with infestation of any kind connected with the waste collections as I clean the bins, the area around the bins and consume the food I purchase so it's not hanging around outside to attract vermin.
If people choose to live amongst filth then they have to expect to be plagued by rats.”
by JoJo, Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 9:13AM
“Ali, why not just ask your neighbour or the bin cleaning man how much he charges???!!!”
by philip, southville
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 8:49AM
“i was wondering if these rats will be classed as tenents or visitors when the council bring in the parking scheme. they have to park roland's ratmobile somewhere”
by phil, bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 8:44AM
“i found a dead rat in my garden and called the council, and the kind man on the phone offered to send a pest control officer round but only a my expense. whitch was very kind of him seeing i also pay for to his pension and wages! the real rats that need sorting out are the council”
by pp, Bristol
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 11:27PM
“Aww,c'mom guys,Rats are cute.”
by Shelly, BRIZZLE
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 10:53PM
“Why oh why is there never a pied piper around when you want one? With one of them beggers we could kill 2 birds with one stione and get rid of all our troublesome teens as well!
Oh BTW In south Glos they don't have food recycling at all (let alone every week) I reckon the problem must be worse there than Brizzle”