The Australian city where rat sightings are surging

The number of rat baits on City of Sydney land will double over the coming weeks in response to a growing number of rat sightings and several cases of leptospirosis in dogs.

Rat populations have been stirred by an unprecedented number of major construction and infrastructure projects taking place across the City of Sydney area.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney is taking action to tackle the problem.

“We have been very concerned by the recent cases of leptospirosis in Sydney, affecting dogs in our local area, so have decided to double the number of rat bait stations in public areas and increase inspections to monitor rat activity,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We will now have 860 rat bait stations in public areas and will place additional baits out when we receive complaints from residents and businesses.

“We can’t fight the rat problem on our own, because we can only install rat baits on our own land. The City has written to Sydney Trains, Property NSW, Sydney Water and NSW Land and Housing Corporation to urge them to increase baiting and monitoring of rats on their land.

“We also need residents and businesses to take care with food scraps and other waste. Our regulatory staff will continue to target poor waste management practices and illegal dumping in hot spots.” 

The City is also recommending private property owners ensure regular pest control is carried out and remove overgrown vegetation and accumulated rubbish that may attract vermin.

“It is essential that residents book to have their waste collected. City of Sydney residents are entitled to 52 free bulky waste collections every year, which aims to tackle illegal dumping and control pests and vermin,” the Lord Mayor said.

Pet owners concerned about recent cases of leptospirosis in the inner city should contact their vet.

There are more than 135 City of Sydney staff and contractors who monitor rats as part of their duties in public places like parks and streets, and food premises.

More than 110 of those workers are based in public areas, removing food waste, identifying and backfilling rat holes and reporting rats for targeted baiting.

Visitors to city parks are reminded to dispose of food scraps in the bins provided and to not feed any rats.

Twenty-five environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of food premises and shopping centres, ensuring operators are fulfilling their responsibility to eradicate pests and vermin and prevent their entry into food premises.

The City also recently introduced a requirement for all developers to provide a pest management plan ahead of major construction work.

Do you live in and around Sydney? Have you spotted rats in public places?

9 comments

Seven dogs have died in Sydney from a disease that can kill pets in 48 hours, is transmitted by rat urine and has emerged in New South Wales for the first time, possibly owing to construction “stirring up” rodent populations.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that causes haemorrhages, organ failure and swelling of the brain and is potentially fatal to both dogs and humans.

Fifty-two people across Australia have also been infected with leptospirosis – and eight in the first 10 days of June. But none of those infections have been in Sydney and only four have been in NSW. There have been 37 infections in Queensland, five in Victoria, three in the Northern Territory and two in Western Australia.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/10/rare-disease-spread-via-rat-urine-kills-seven-dogs-and-leaves-dozens-of-australians-ill

I saw a rat running along the top of my fence one day as I was watering the garden, I gave it a good blast with the hose and it fell off to the other side. I usually keep a box of rat bait open on the floor of my garage. They are disgusting pests.

I  have a phobia of all rodents since I was a child I think I have a good reason I can't  even look at pictures of them 

Just because they weren't seen did not mean they weren't there. In Sydney you are never more than a metre from a rat whether they are visible or not. And that includes in the city centre streets. 

Please be careful when killing rodents. Some are protected by law such as the Water Rats and Bush Rats.

There are plenty of the White Tailed Water Rats running around Sydney. I came close to being bitten by one.

Image result for Australian water rat

Plwasw  remember that rat posion can kill pet cats. Always keep ou reach of children. I do not live in Sydney . The tradesamen via the lanlord  checked for rats in the rood as they can damage  insulation

Plwasw  remember that rat posion can kill pet cats. Always keep ou reach of children. I do not live in Sydney . The tradesamen via the lanlord  checked for rats in the rood as they can damage  insulation

We always keep it under the house where rats, mice can get too but cats are unable so safe, so too are our dogs - who will keep most cats out anyway.  Lots of water bowls which brings many wild birds even large birds. 

Sad that these wind farms are killing so many of the magnificent protected birds though. Bob Brown is right on these as very expensive, mostly foreign owned and so money not kept here in Australia and not that dependable anyway if wind not there. 

 

Finn, I thought all the energy production in Tasmania was owned by Hydro Tasmania (Tas Government) either solely or in a joint venture with a foreign entity? 

We need to employ the services of this guy to keep Sydney free of rats.

Image result for pied piper animated gif

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