Infested

Fiona Howard • Published 5 Aug 2010 09:30 0 Comments

A HORDE of rats is causing concern in Helensburgh's pier car park.

Residents have reported seeing rats running over cars and snatching food from bins, sparking fears that the colony, which lives in the break waters around the car park, is now spiralling out of control.

As a result, Argyll and Bute Council is stepping up its efforts in an attempt to control the problem.

Baited bins have already placed around the car park as a matter of course to keep the vermin under control, but plans are being made to take extra measures.

A council spokesman said: "We are aware of the recent recurrence of this issue, and are taking immediate steps to tackle it."

She added: "We already have three static bait stations in the harbour car park, and will be putting down a further six this week.

"We would expect the extra bait to have an effect reasonably quickly."

Common brown rats, like those at the pier, can transmit many diseases, including Salmonellosis (food poisoning) and Weils disease - which has similar symptoms to the flu and will require hospital treatment.

They can cause damage to buildings and other structures by gnawing and burrowing.

The rats find the car park edges an ideal home in the summer and make their nests in the holes between the stone and rocks of the break waters, feasting on the goodies left by visitors to the town.

Full bins and discarded fast food all make perfect conditions for the rodents to set up home and feed their broods.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 05 Aug 10

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