Lethbridge (ECN) - Alberta's highly touted status as a rat-free province and one of only three places in the world to make that claim, the others being Antarctica and the Arctic, is in jeopardy.
A notoriously troublesome Norway rat, a rodent well known for carrying disease and damaging both crops and buildings, was caught and euthanized after a Calgary resident called animal services last Thursday. The ensuing investigation revealed four other rat burrows in the Calgary neighborhood prompting health officials to issue a public health warning. Evidence of activity was discovered in the wooden foundation of one resident's home, while other homeowners found signs of gnawing in their backyard sheds.
Officials have stepped up their efforts in the wake of this discovery to combat a possible rodent infestation. "Four or five, if they’re left alone, will soon be four or five thousand," said Calgary bylaw spokesman Bill Bruce. "We'll be at this for the next three weeks until we confirm that, if there is more than one rat, we will get them all."
Rats breed often, and female rats can become pregnant only 45 days after giving birth. It's a reality that could threaten Alberta's rural-based Norway rat control program that's been in effect since 1950.
The infamous Norway rat can be distinguished from Alberta's native rodents by its long, hairless tail, an appendage almost as long as its body. The province's native rats feature a shorter tail that's either partially or completely covered by hair.
Alberta Agriculture inspector Robert Pulyk says landowners have to keep an eye out for the creepy critters.
"These are things that are going on right now, and it's disgusting."
"With the landowners keeping an eye out for rats . . . and with these rat officers and some government employees doing special areas, that alone has kept the rat population out of the province," Pulyk said.
Alberta has a long way to go to catch up to places like New York City, where the rat population is estimated anywhere from 60-million to as has as 96 million rats
