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 Rats are trapped in a cage after they were caught from a slum area, on the outskirts of Mumbai October 29, 2011. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS) |
CALGARY - A colony of rats have been discovered at the Medicine Hat landfill, and the southern Alberta city is now teaming with the province and an independent pest-control company to deal with the infestation.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Verlyn Olson said the infestation is taken very seriously, pointing out in the same Wednesday-issued release Alberta is the only province with rat-free status.
“We have lived without the menace of rats since 1950 when our control program began," he said.
"Occasionally, small infestations are found and we act quickly to isolate and eradicate them. We will be working closely with the City of Medicine Hat until this issue is resolved."
At a Wednesday press conference, officials said 19 rats have been found and killed so far, in locations all over the landfill, in the town about 300 km southeast of Calgary.
"We are seeing very favourable results and will continue with the implementation and monitor this situation closely," city solid waste utility manager Ed Jollymore said in a release issued Wednesday.
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KP Pest Control is dealing with bait stations and traps to deal with the problem while Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is offering up the bait.
damien.wood@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter: @SUNDamienWood