How Alberta Won the Rat Race

One Canadian province has virtually eliminated its vermin—and shows how others can too.  An Alexander W. Helin/Getty Images photo..

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

“The only way our program works is 100 percent elimination. Take no survivors.”
Image via the Calgary Herald

How Alberta won the Rat Race.

No, not a woman named Alberta.  Rather, the Canadian province of Alberta.

Alberta was all but free of rats until after World War II. 

At the same time, lessons learned during that war helped Albertans to be able to then successfully combat rats.

Key has been how Alberta has protected its border from invasion by Norwegian rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Steps include sending out patrols armed with poison and shotguns along its border with Saskatchewan.

The only good rat is a dead rat
A 1975 Province of Alberta poster.

Alberta is roughly the same size as the state of Texas and yet so successful has been Alberta’s efforts that the province spends only has to spent roughly $380,000 a year on rat eradication but which saves Alberta farmers many millions from prevarication of their crops. 

Alberta also bans the keeping of rats as pets as well as educates its children on the scourge of rats and what to do if one happens across a rat.

A less than known fact about rats: the brown rat thrives only among human settlements. 

Just like politicians.

Source: How Alberta Won the Rat Race

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