Alberta’s ‘rat patrol’ ramps up operations as vermin makes inroads in province
Summary
Alberta, Canada, has been free of rats since 1950 thanks to strong measures like a special rat control zone and public efforts. Recently, the town of Bowden found a dead rat, raising concerns about rats spreading in the province despite ongoing surveillance by Alberta’s “rat patrol.”Key Facts
- Alberta has been officially rat-free since 1950.
- The town of Bowden reported finding a dead rat and asked people to report any sightings.
- Alberta created a 600km by 30km "rat control zone" to stop rats from entering, especially from neighboring Saskatchewan.
- In the early 1950s, the province used arsenic powder to treat thousands of buildings and farms to kill rats.
- The Agricultural Pests Act requires everyone to destroy any rats they find.
- Rats struggle to survive in Alberta’s natural environment, which has mountains, forests, and few human structures.
- Rat populations are rising in many cities worldwide due to warming temperatures, but Alberta has kept rats mostly out.
- Alberta continues to get many reports each year, but most are not rats, but other animals like muskrats and mice.
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