How Come Alberta Has No Rats?

You may be wondering, “How come Alberta has no rats?” Rats are an invasive species that cause billions of dollars in losses to businesses and farmers each year. However, in Alberta, rat populations have been kept to a minimum through a strict rat control program. The government of Alberta has been conducting inspections and killing stray rats for over five decades.

Despite this fact, many people in Canada do not debate rat control in Alberta. In fact, Albertans seem very proud of this fact. It seems to be tied in with the identity of the province. But despite this, McTavish says that the issue should not be debatable.

The government of Alberta declared “War on Rats” in 1950, setting up dedicated Rat Patrollers to fight the rodent problem. The government also set up a hotline for residents to report infestations of rats. The number is 310-RATS, and a former Mountie named Hamblin is the operator.

In 1950, Albertans feared the introduction of Norway rats. These rats were thought to have spread the bubonic plague across Europe. In addition to eating garbage, they build nests in dark and unlit homes. In addition, they are notoriously efficient breeders.