The town of Bowden, Alberta, announced the discovery of a dead rat, prompting the province's rat patrol to investigate. For over 70 years, Alberta has been recognized as a region free of rats, similar to Antarctica and parts of the high Arctic. The province's reputation was impacted by this recent finding, as officials urged residents to report any signs of rat activity. The specific location of the rat's discovery within Bowden has not been disclosed.
Research indicates that rat populations have increased significantly in urban areas due to rising global temperatures. In the past decade, Washington D.C. has seen a 390% increase in rat sightings, San Francisco a 300% increase, and New York a 162% increase. Toronto has also reported a 186% rise in rat numbers over the last ten years.
Alberta has implemented measures to prevent rat infestations since the establishment of its Rat Control Program in 1950. The province attributes its success to its geography, which includes mountain ranges and boreal forests that hinder the survival of Norway rats, considered highly destructive. In response to concerns about potential rat incursions from Saskatchewan, Alberta created a 373-mile by 18-mile rat control zone to monitor and prevent infestations.
From June 1952 to July 1953, Alberta treated 8,000 buildings on 2,700 farms with arsenic trioxide powder to combat rat spread. The Agricultural Pests Act of Alberta mandates that all individuals and municipalities destroy any rats found. The province has also established dedicated reporting channels for residents to report suspected rat sightings. Despite receiving numerous calls each year, the rat patrol notes that most reported sightings are misidentified animals such as muskrats, voles, and field mice. However, officials acknowledge that while Alberta maintains a rat-free status, isolated incidents of rat sightings can occur.