It's Official: Calgary Has Rats

[mki]

A dead rat has been found in a southeast Calgary backyard.

An Auburn Bay man says his dog discovered a dead rodent five days ago.

“I thought it was a gopher,” the man said.
But after news of a Norway rat infestation at Medicine Hat’s landfill broke this week, the man took another look at the fly-ridden carcass and it was clear, he said.

“It was a rat.”

Calgary bylaw officers responded to the man’s call earlier today.
Officials are confirming the dead rodent is a Norway rat.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/...416/story.html

[glasshead]

LOL! quick, somebody call the Mercer ranking folks!

[Komrade]

Guess ol Alberta aint rat free no mo!

[MylesC]

Rat Patrol...activate!

[H Bill.]

ha ha.I knew it would be impossible to keep up the 'rat free' image.in Alberta

[jagators63]

rats will become a problem in alberta and it is hard to get rid of them.

[jagators63]

Rats free in alberta ?? don't think so because I just happen to kill one little rat in dishwasher area few yrs ago but won't say where and what the name of a restaurant.

[KC]

I'd like to see a permanent fund established to keep Alberta "rat free". It would be great if Saskatchewan would take some of their new found wealth and start working at our border to 'free' up portions of their province too.

And as with DED maybe a bit of public education would lessen the work of the government.

The History of Rat Control in Alberta
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3441/$file/682-1.pdf?OpenElement

"After 1959, the number of infestations dropped dramatically; numbers vary between 36 and 216 per year (Figure 3).

"Surprisingly, overland transportation of rats has not been a major problem, with no more than eight infestations reported in any one year. Most infestations within the interior of Alberta consist of a single rat transported by truck or rail."

"A few white rats have been brought in by pet stores, biology teachers, and well-meaning individuals who did not know that it was unlawful to have rats in Alberta...."

[jstock]

Edmonton has 17.....but only during a sitting of the legislative assembly

[edmonton daily photo]

Originally Posted by KC

I'd like to see a permanent fund established to keep Alberta "rat free". It would be great if Saskatchewan would take some of their new found wealth and start working at our border to 'free' up portions of their province too.

And as with DED maybe a bit of public education would lessen the work of the government.

The History of Rat Control in Alberta
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3441/$file/682-1.pdf?OpenElement

"After 1959, the number of infestations dropped dramatically; numbers vary between 36 and 216 per year (Figure 3).

"Surprisingly, overland transportation of rats has not been a major problem, with no more than eight infestations reported in any one year. Most infestations within the interior of Alberta consist of a single rat transported by truck or rail."

"A few white rats have been brought in by pet stores, biology teachers, and well-meaning individuals who did not know that it was unlawful to have rats in Alberta...."

You can put me in charge of the fund that will keep Alberta Mosquito free.... and I will laugh all the way to the bank. me and my buddy the rat fund owner can live high of the public purse.

NO Thanks.

[sundance]

I do hope they can contain the Medicine Hat problem, you only need 2 to survive to start a huger problem.

I heard on the radio a politician mentioning that rats don't get off trucks crossing at the border and other such reasons (which are true). But what really caused me to scratch my head was his comment about flooding last year would help the rats spread. Yes rats can float on logs or debris or swim but for the most part rivers in Alberta flow OUT of Alberta not into it so unless the rats are from Alberta to begin with flooding is pretty much a non-issue (except of course the Peace River which is nowhere near Medicine Hat).

[AShetsen]

I've always thought the rat-free Alberta thing was a bit over the top. We've always had rats, but we've been fairly effective in fighting them. When they start getting discovered in urban back yards, you know there really is no such thing as a rat-free Alberta.

Let's give up the bull. Especially because the rats-as-politicians jokes are a little gamey too by now.

[edmonton daily photo]

It's not about carrying... its about fleeing. (imo)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...119902859.html

Flood brings fleeing rats close to city

RATS are fleeing Manitoba's rising flood waters and at least one exterminator is warning homeowners to move trash bins off the ground and clean up backyards.
It's a lot easier to keep rats away than get rid of them after they show up, said Lincoln Poulin, vice-president for technical operations at Poulin's Pest Control.

"Right now, people are concerned with flood problems, not rats, but it's so important to check outside your house and get rid of any old piles of wood or garbage up against fence lines and houses," Poulin said.
The rodents breed fast and by the time the flood water recedes, a single pair of rats can generate rodents through an entire neighbourhood.

[KC]

Originally Posted by AShetsen

I've always thought the rat-free Alberta thing was a bit over the top. We've always had rats, but we've been fairly effective in fighting them. When they start getting discovered in urban back yards, you know there really is no such thing as a rat-free Alberta.

Let's give up the bull. Especially because the rats-as-politicians jokes are a little gamey too by now.

Alberta is "rat free" in the sense that those that inevitably arrive whether by foot, rail, truck, plane or whatever, get hunted down and exterminated as soon as they are discovered. It's always been an ongoing battle. The media doesn't seem to get this simple fact as it was headlining our loss of the "rat free" status.

[AShetsen]

We are not rat free, then. So let's give up the silly boast.

[Komrade]

Originally Posted by AShetsen

We are not rat free, then. So let's give up the silly boast.

x2

some sort of rural farmer pride lol

[KC]

Literalists! I suppose you would argue that we are not an "oil rich" province either because periodically, like 2009, oil prices drop.

Periodically, we not rat free. Generally, we are rat free.

[azzey]

Well, I've never seen rat so we must be doing something right