Rats move into City Hall
Posted Aug 30, 2011 06:14:12 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – It’s not the type of “rats” you’re probably thinking of.
Those furry little rodents have been seen everywhere in town, first noticed last week around a garbage can outside behind the building.
After hearing the news, Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley contacted staff City staff to see how the city tried to abolish rat infestations – especially since the green bin program started last year. “We have to find out for sure what staff are doing about it. What is the plan here to get rid of rats?”
City Hall spokesman Barre Campbell said that when it comes to critters around City Hall, the parks, buildings and ground operations and maintenance branch is examining a connection between community garden plots located on the property and the rats.
The rat problem is not confined to City Hall, however. The National Capital Commission has received several complaints within the last year that rats have been seen at across from City Hall at Confederation Park. The NCC were able to manage the situation with rat poison bait stations.
Rats have also been spotted behind dumpsters in Chinatown according to Coun. Diane Holmes, who represents the downtown Somerset ward.
Between the years of 2006 and 2010, the sewer maintenance branch of City Hall responded to five hundred and fifty three complaints regarding rodents. Calls also increased from 97 in 2006 to 146 in 2010. Current calls for 2011 were unavailable as of this week.
