Region’s rodents are on the rise

Feb 10 2009 by James Marley, The Journal

RAT numbers in our region are rising, according to a vermin survey.

Figures collected by the National Pest Technicians’ Association (NPTA) from the North East show more reports of rodents were made in 2008, compared with 2007.

And experts are warning the statistics may represent only the tip of the iceberg.

They believe charges levied by councils for pest control services are putting people off reporting sightings of rats as they will have to pay to sort it out.

In the North East the number of rat reports rose by 9% over the last year. There were 16,527 reports of rats and 10,010 reports of mice. The number of reports of mice fell by 3%.

This year’s survey shows a marked increase in rat populations across the UK, reversing the drop in rat numbers which was recorded last year.

The association blames the rise on councils’ failure to get on top of rat populations in previous years.

Because of the mild winter in 2006 to 2007 rats were not seen as often in buildings and streets, meaning fewer reports. But the surviving creatures then profited from good breeding conditions in the summer to cause problems come the autumn.