Threat of the super-rat! Council wants poison laws relaxed to kill ‘mutant rodent’ which can transmit life-threatening diseases
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | December 13, 2012 0:20
A new type of ’mutated super-rat’ is plaguing the Home Counties and campaigners are now demanding that laws are relaxed to allow use of stronger poisons in order for them to wipe out the rodent threat.
Homes in Berkshire,Oxfordand Hampshire have reported increased numbers of the ‘super-rodent’ which is resistant to normal poisons and can transmit life-threatening diseases to humans and farm animals.
However, wildlife experts fear that if stronger poisons are allowed to be used against the rat-threat it may harm innocent local wildlife.
The ‘super-rats’ population is due to increase further as the recent flooding across many parts ofBritainhas created ideal breeding conditions.
Other EU countries allow use of brodifacoum and flocoumafen outside, but attempts to make them available inBritain are likely to lead to all-out war with nature lovers who fear owls, hawks and even dogs and cats will eat the rodents and ingest the poison.
Head of the study Dr Alan Buckle said: ‘We’re not allowed to use them because the regulatory body is worried about their effects on wildlife.
‘My view is that we need to use the stronger poisons but we need to tell people how to use them carefully. If we can do that we can solve the problem.’
The Health and Safety Executive is currently consulting on a European Union proposal to allow limi
ted outdoor use of certain chemicals in pest control. The results will be published next year.
Dr Buckle found the super rats look like their non-mutant cousins, which makes it even harder to identify them.
He added: ‘All rats tend to carry various diseases. The reason we need to get rid of them is because they transmit diseases from themselves to humans and farm animals. They can be life-threatening.
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