EDMONTON – For years, Alberta has had stringent protocols designed to keep rats out, but Sturgeon County confirmed Friday some roof rats were found on a property in the area.
An official said it’s believed the rodents came from B.C. and managed to reach Alberta by getting into a trailer or RV. They ended up on a property near Bon Accord in the spring and made a nest under a chicken coop.
Officials found approximately 15 rats. Some were already dead and others were baited.
“I think that we’ve got them eradicated,” said Phil Merrill, provincial rat and pest specialist. “We thought that in the spring, when we found the little nest. We did eradicate that nest…but the nest managed to spread to a nearby dump that a neighbour had.”
Merrill said the situation is now under control, but there have been a few single rat sightings in the community since.
READ MORE: Alberta’s rat-free status in question after discovery in Medicine Hat
“If anyone even thinks that they’ve seen a rat or if there might be an infestation, they’re certainly encouraged to call the local municipality,” said Jason Storch, president of Association of Alberta Agriculture Fieldmen.
“The other option of course is to call 310-RATS. That’s a 24-hour phone answering service offered by Alberta Agriculture.”
Rat control experts will be dispatched to investigate the complaint.
Storch said rats – especially a larger group – will leave some evidence of their presence.
“There’s going to be holes that they’re gnawing into in the bases of grain bins, probably trying to get into different buildings. You’re probably going to see some damage in feeds you have stacked up, you’re going to see some signs in grainaries – if you have grain storage – there’ll be signs of rat activity there as well.”
In the past, two species of rat have made appearances in Alberta: Norway and Roof.
READ MORE: Almost 80 dead rats found in Medicine Hat landfill
In April 2014, nearly 80 dead rats were discovered in a Medicine Hat landfill. In August 2012, at least 100 Norway rats were killed by city workers after an 80-metre-long nest was discovered at the same landfill. It took six hours for 21 workers and two excavators to dismantle it.
“Roof rats haven’t been able to establish on the prairie yet, and probably won’t,” said Merrill. “They’re not as hardy as the Norway rat and they’re not as temperature tolerant.”
Officials are confident they can keep the province rat-free.
“The province has zero tolence for rats,” said Storch.
“It’s a rat free zone. We have no resident populations of rats established here.”
He explained crews use “proven rat control methods” like trapping and baiting to get rid of the rodents as quickly as possible.
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