Dead rat found at a home in a small central Alberta town
A dead Norway rat has been found at a residence in a small central Alberta town, sparking an investigation by the province’s Rat Control Program.
Alberta prides itself on having a rat-free population, with no major concentration existing in the province since the 1950s.
According to a Facebook post from the Town of Bowden, which is located about 45 kilometres south of Red Deer, a dead rat has been found in the Bowden area, and Rat Patrol has been dispatched to investigate and dispose of it.
“If you’ve noticed rat droppings or any signs of rats, please contact Rat Patrol Alberta so they can follow up,” the post added.
Alberta’s Rat Control Program relies heavily on Albertans to report observations of rats. If you spot a rat or suspect rat damage, email rats@gov.ab.ca, submit a report using EDDMapS, AISC’s free smartphone app for reporting invasive species, call 310-FARM, or contact your local municipality.
Daily Hive reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, which Alberta’s Rat Patrol program operates under, and was told that a single Norway rat was discovered at the home in Bowden.
“The rat control program team is working with the homeowner to monitor for the presence of additional rats on site, but no other signs have been found. This event is a great opportunity to remind Albertans that we must remain vigilant when it comes to rats,” said Callum Reid, press secretary for the provincial Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in a statement.
While a sighting of a rat can be far and few between, they can sometimes wiggle their way into the province.
Earlier this decade, Alberta saw its largest rat infestation in more than 10 years, when infestations at two separate recycling plants were discovered in Calgary.