Scenic lakeside walk now becoming a rat run
A LOT of people enjoy nothing more than a lakeside stroll in the cool autumn air – but probably don’t expect to have rats as company.
Fendrod Lake in Valley Way, Llansamlet, is a popular spot with dog walkers, anglers, runners and people working out on the outdoor exercise equipment.
It’s an area abundant with wildlife and people are often greeted by territorial swans and noisy ducks as they leave the car park to complete the circular walk around the lake.
However, there is one furry creature that seems to be making Fendrod Lake its home at the moment – the rat.
Although rats have been spotted at the lake for years, people have noticed an increase in their numbers lately with them scurrying under cars in the car park and even acrobatically hanging from tree branches.
Why there are suddenly more rats at the lake is a bit of a mystery but one local angler who fishes the lake regularly, Dan Jones, said it might be because it hasn’t flooded for a while or they are being attracted by food left by people for the ducks.
“The flooding used to kill them off and control the numbers. There also used to be mink here and I’ve spotted a stoat too – the mink would kill the rats, and the fish though.
“People say the anglers bring the rats with their bait but the amount of people who feed the ducks is non-stop,” he said.
Dan has been fishing at Fendrod Lake for more than a decade and although he has “got used” to the little furry companions when he is fishing, he is concerned because of a disease carried by rats.
Weil’s disease is a type of severe bacterial infection, also known as Leptospirosis, which is carried by animals, most commonly rats and cattle.
The symptoms of Weil’s disease can range from mild flu-like symptoms to kidney or liver failure and in extreme cases, death.
“The rats climb all over our stuff and I can hear them fighting and squealing when they’re fighting over territory.
“They don’t really bother me anymore but some people won’t use a couple of the fishing pegs (platforms) because they’ve become known as ‘rat runs’,” Dan added.
Dan said that the wild mink that used to kill the rats were found dead after getting into an electrical box in a nearby building and understands that there “isn’t much that can be done” about them.
“They can’t put poison down because of all the other wildlife in the area and people walk their dogs here too,” he said.
A spokesman for Swansea council said: “We’ve recently received reports of the presence of rats near the car park at Fendrod Lake.
“Pest control officers are due to visit to treat the area.”