Rats are a growing concern in the Creston Valley as more and more reports of the rodents keep surfacing.
WildsafeBC Coordinator Rosie Wijenberg says garbage is a huge factor, not freezing smelly organics and leaving it out on the curb only does harm. But that’s not all.
“It is really also getting as much fruit off the trees as possible, and it’s not just rats. It’s bears, pretty much any kind of rodent. I know it’s overwhelming but people can do their part by looking after their back yard trees.”
For larger wildlife, Wijenbern suggests electrical fencing. But for rats, she suggests chicken wire, or anything that can fit in small places and can’t get chewed through. Ultimately, she says reducing attractants is the best way to mitigate pests.
Wijenberg paid a visit to Creston last month tagging curbside garbage left out too early. After speaking with the previous WildsafeBC coordinator Trish Drinkle about smart waste management, she determined that the practice is starting to slip in Creston.
“It’s definitely back-peddled since from what she said she had people doing. But I’ve been going out garbage tagging. I ran out of stickers. I had to order new ones.”
Only sticking to the curbside, Wijenberg says she knocked on some doors if there were signs of attractants.
The official stance by the Town of Creston is: “Management of rats and other rodents is the responsibility of property owners.”
As for WildsafeBC? Wijenberg says they only help mitigate, not exterminate.