Rat catchers called out 50 times a week in Kirklees

Feb 13 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“Unless local authorities, utilities and other business can find new ways of working together and with householders to combat rats and mice through well-planned and coordinated professional treatment, we can only see our national rodent problem becoming progressively worse in the years ahead.”

One reason for the increase is the suggestion that DIY treatments by untrained people could lead to infestation problems going unresolved.

The decrease in household rubbish collections mean that residents have rubbish in their bins for longer.

While people throwing food cartons from takeaways on the pavements is also leading to an increase in rats outside.

Rats and mice are also known to nibble on bird feed in gardens, while poorly secured household waste is also a feeding and breeding ground of vermin.

Graham Jukes, from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: “In the UK control of our most significant pests is loosening when it should be tightening.

“Far from being relics of the past, incidence of pest-borne disease is a public health issue and the risk will grow in the absence of action.”

Kirklees Council have Pest Control officers working to treat infestations of mice, rats, cockroaches, fleas and bed bugs.

There is no statutory obligation for them to provide a pest control service, and they charge residents around £60 for three visits – required to treat the infestation.