Rats on the increase

My new neighbours cat caught 6 rats in it's first week of life here in Bread Street - apparently they are on the increase locally...2007 was the worst year on record for rats reported to Stroud District Council’s pest control team. Officers were called out to 1,568 homes last year compared with 1,008 in 2006.

Photo: I met this fellow just after Christmas - a friends pet rat that was very friendly indeed

It is difficult to know for sure why there are more complaints but milder winters (climate change again?) are thought to be a factor. It is certainly a national problem. Locally the District are trying to increase capacity by exploring new ways of working to reduce the number of revisits required per treatment and also trying to show residents how to make their homes less attractive to rats - and encourage catering businesses to store food waste properly. Over-feeding wild birds; putting refuse sacks out the night before collection and open compost heaps can all encourage rats to visit homes and gardens.