Rat infestations seem to be on the wane, due partly to Brisbane City Council’s rodent detection dogs that inspect private addresses when reports are made.
Introduced in the 1900s when Brisbane was plagued with rats, the dogs were catching up to 50,000 rats a year. Now the numbers are somewhat less with 900 annual rat callouts.
The rodent detection team consists of three Fox Terriers who love to help sniff out rats in homes, schools, parks and businesses. They also detect rats near overgrown vegetation. When rats are detected the pest control teams place bait and traps. According to Brisbane Lifestyle Chairman, Krista Adams, “when we can find the rat nest on private property, we work with the owners on strategies to minimise the attractiveness of their house, and kill the rats humanely.”
This suggests rodent detection dogs are probably somewhat more PC than dogs back in the 1900s were. Today the dogs are not blooded, i.e., they don’t develop a taste for blood from killing rats, and they don’t hunt rats in roofs or attics which are potential hazards for snake attacks. Once their rat detecting days are over, they are well looked after throughout their retirement years.
What to do if you ‘smell a rat’
The Brisbane Council’s advice on rat proofing your home seems to be working as people are becoming more aware of how they need to keep their properties tidy and secure rubbish bins tightly to avoid attracting rats.
Tips include:
- Regularly checking for holes and blocking any that you find. An adult rat can squeeze through a hole in a ceiling or wall as small as a five cent coin.
- Keeping cupboard doors closed.
- Storing food and leftovers in sealed containers.
- Repairing any breakage or holes in wall linings and roof cavities immediately.
- Restricting rats running up building pipes by placing metal gauze over the ends.
- Trimming overhanging tree branches near your roof so rats can’t use them to get into the roof cavity.
They also give advice on eliminating rats using baits and traps; you can read more on the Brisbane City Council website.