PLAGUED BY RATS
Horrified parents demand action as giant rodents run wild in streets and gardens
Parents are fearing for their children’s safety after giant rats have been spotted roaming streets and gardens in broad daylight.
Anxious neighbours have called for action after a plague of rodents have overrun the area.
One worried mum Elann Boyce, who has a seven-month-old son, Kalleb, told the Post how the vermin are “running riot” through people’s gardens, prompting parents to keep their youngstgers indoors. “This is sickening to see,” she said.
A concerned mum of a seven month-old baby boy has spoken of her dismay at seeing a plague of rats infest her neighbourhood.
The Post has learned that two streets in Patna– Downieston Place and Dalharco Avenue – have been affected by the appearance of the vermin.
And stay-at-home mum, Elann Boyce, 37, told the Post how the rodents are running riot through people’s gardens, prompting parents to keep their kids indoors.
She said: “I just hope The Post can highlight this problem because it’s getting us down. We’ve went from quarantine to being under siege! I have contacted the councillors and the council but I just don’t think they care.
“It’s ridiculous. The rats appeared about four weeks ago and they have
They’re crawling across the fences and the gates Elann Boyce
been breeding. Now there’s hundreds of them. It’s concerning for us mums who have babies. We can’t let the children out in the garden to play because the rats are coming out during the day. They are crawling across the fences and the gates. You can’t expose children to that. It’s scary! We just want back to normality.”
Elann, who is doting mum to seven month-old Kalleb, continued: “The council has not yet been able to cut the grass down by the waterfront and we’ve also found some coming from under a man’s hut, although he’s put traps down. There’s hundreds of them and they have been breeding for a while.”
She added: “We just want to keep our children safe.”
Advice from Shelter Scotland says: “Rats spread disease through their urine and droppings. They also cause a lot of damage to your home and furnishings, and can chew through electrical wires, increasing the risk of fire and electrocution.
“However, you can keep them under control yourself using traps (you could also use humane traps) or poison, which you can buy in most
DIY stores. A cat is also an effective deterrent. If you find evidence of rats in your home, you should call in the council or a pest control firm to deal with them immediately.”
An East Ayrshire Council spokesman said: “The Environmental Health Service has received three complaints of rats at properties in the Downieston Place/Dalharco Avenue area of Patna, these being received on July 7, July 13 and July 14.
“The council’s Pest Control Officer is carrying out appropriate treatments at the properties, and treatments will continue until such times as the infestations have been eradicated.”
To report a pest incident in East Ayrshire call 01563 576790 (Option 5), or email RegulatoryServices@eastayrshire.gov.uk
Urgent enquiries will be dealt with within two working days. Rats and mice are generally classified as high priority, as are wasp complaints because of the perceived risk of harm.