Why is There No Rats in Alberta?
WouterAlberta has a major beef with Norway rats. The rodents, which carry a variety of diseases, first invaded North America in the 17th century and have since gnawed their way across the country. In 1950, government inspectors first documented the sighting of a colony in Alberta. They were quickly exterminated, but the problem was far from solved. The government eventually surveyed more than thirty colonies, resulting in the elimination of nearly all of them.
The government of Alberta is committed to eliminating rat problems in the province. They enforce a strict rat control program, inspecting more than three thousand farms each year. The government has made the issue of rat control an official priority. Despite the government’s efforts, a few rats make their way into the province every year.
In 2012, the Alberta government set up a hotline to report any sightings of rats. The hotline also encouraged citizens to send in pictures of rats, gophers, and muskrats. The pictures collected were then studied by counter-espionage agents. Despite these efforts, however, most Albertans have never even seen a rat.
Albertans are very determined to prevent rat invasions and control problems, and they have even declared a “War on Rats” to fight the problem. The government has dedicated Rat Patrollers to the job of eliminating rat infestations and has established a hotline for citizens to report infestations. The number is 310-RATS, and is manned by a former Mountie.
