Ramping up rat removal
St. John’s considers Vancouver example
City of St. John’s staff are considering whether there’s more that can be done to combat rat problems in the city.
The issue was brought up by Coun. Jamie Korab at the regular meeting of council on Tuesday. He said he’s had an increase in the number of emails from residents concerned about rats, and even one resident who sent him suggestions based on what Vancouver did in the 1980s with a bylaw to address rodent concerns in that city.
Korab wondered if the city is doing enough to combat the number of rats and asked staff to look into it.
“We’re going to see what other municipalities have done,” he told The Telegram.
“Whether it’s giving residents tools, or whether it’s the extreme to do things on private property, which we’re looking at, but it’s not something that’s been done at this point.”
Korab said currently the onus is on private property owners – whether residential or commercial – to look after their own property and ensure they are taking steps to minimize rodents, and generally the city aims to minimize any intrusion on private property.
“There’s no government-organized rodent control program in St. John’s, or the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for that matter, to the best of my knowledge. So, there’s nowhere right now where municipalities are going in there to private property.”
Korab said it’s something the city is considering, though currently city rodent control measures are contained to city-owned land and properties.
He said city staff are reviewing the Vancouver bylaw to see what recommendations, if any, can be gleaned from that example.
“If there was a bylaw to be put in place for this – I’m not saying there would be – but that’s something that would take time because there’s a number of processes. It would have to go through legal, among others – all the regulatory steps.
“The other thing, too, with any bylaw we create – whether it be rodents or whatever it may be for – is that it has to be a bylaw that we can enforce.”
He said there is no timeline in place for city staff to make recommendations to council.
Meanwhile, the summer edition of the City Guide offered residents tips to rat-proof properties, such as removing food sources and potential shelters. That means proper composting, putting garbage at the curb no earlier than 6 a.m. on pickup day, removing bird feeders or ensuring feed doesn’t fall to the ground and removing any items that could provide shelter for rats.
“We talk about smart pet owners all the time, like picking up after your dog. Well, this would come down to being a smart homeowner,” said Korab.
Korab said some residents contacted Coun. Deanne Stapleton with similar concerns. However she could not be reached for comment by press deadline.