Boston
Boston is a port city like Halifax, they also have a wastewater treatment plant. They do have a serious rat problem but at least the City is trying to help with the problem rather then leaving it totally up to its citizens.
RAT CONTROL
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
STUDIES
Control Of Norway Rats In Sewer And Utility Systems Using Pulsed Baiting Methods
- ABSTRACT: There were 1,288 sewer and 235 other utility manholes baited to control Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in downtown Boston using pulsed-baiting methods. About 15% of all sewer, 18% of phone, and 26% of electric manholes had rat activity. Sewer populations were most associated with residential areas with low flow, small diameter (<61 cm) brick sewers; in those circumstances, up to 38% of manholes had rat activity. Bait consumption in sewers (high risk areas) was 91 % below baseline, five months after the fourth baiting period. Bait consumption and the number of active sewer holes were 96% and 87% below baseline, respectively, when seasonal maintenance baiting was last initiated. Reinfestation of phone/electric manholes was so minimal that maintenance baiting was not necessary or cost-effective. Subsurface baiting should be an integral part of urban rodent control programs.
- HIGHLIGHTS:
- "Additionally, rat-borne diseases, such as leptospirosis, are believed to be a particular concern in wet rat-infested environments and have been identified with the need for sewer baiting programs (Howard 1989). "
- "Random, haphazard, or reactive sewer baiting does little to actually manage a rat population or to solve localized problems. Subsurface baiting requires a systematic approach with close review and adjustments of the baiting strategy based on the quantities and geographic patterns of bait consumption. This takes time to plan, but allows for field implementation to be strategic and thus more cost effective."