How Alberta Eradicated Rats
Alberta’s long-running rat control program, often described as having made the province “rat free,” prompts debate over what eradication really means and how much sustained government coordination it requires. Commenters contrast Alberta’s low rat numbers with rodent-filled ports and cities elsewhere, explore trade-offs with other species (like gophers, coyotes, and foxes), and draw parallels to broader pest and disease management efforts such as ticks, Lyme disease, and New Zealand’s “Predator Free 2050” goal. The thread highlights both the success and fragility of such programs, noting that changing climate and policy priorities can quickly alter what pests a region faces.
Perceptions of Alberta’s “Rat-Free” Status”
- Many commenters reiterate that wild rats are essentially absent from most of Alberta; several lifelong residents say they never saw one until traveling.
- Others stress “rat-free” is shorthand: rats do appear, mainly in border zones or via shipments, but are quickly eradicated, like “measles-free” meaning no sustained transmission.
- Lack of seaports and lower introduction pressure are seen as structural advantages.
- Alberta runs an official rat-control program with online sighting reports.
- Alberta still has abundant other rodents (mice, gophers, voles), sometimes causing significant problems.
Regional Experiences with Rats and Cockroaches
- Strong contrast between regions: some Canadians and rural residents report never seeing rats or roaches; others (e.g., Toronto’s Chinatown, Montreal, US South) describe them as common and visible.
- High-rise living and colder climates are associated with fewer visible cockroaches.
- People debate which insects feel more frightening or disgusting (roaches vs spiders, centipedes, moths).
- Cockroaches are linked by some to poverty and traumatic childhood memories.
Ecology, Predators, and Disease
- Some argue eradicating rats might be ecologically moot because other rodents fill the niche; others reply that rats are unusually destructive and invasive.
- Coyotes, foxes, cats, snakes, birds of prey, and bobcats are noted as rodent predators; there’s debate over encouraging coyotes given pet-safety concerns.
- Ticks: one claim that Alberta ticks don’t spread Lyme is challenged by others citing newer evidence of Lyme-carrying ticks and climate-driven spread; Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also mentioned.
Rat Control Methods and Toxicology
- Warfarin-based poisons are discussed; a historical anecdote describes a pest officer eating treated oats to prove safety.
- Commenters emphasize “the dose makes the poison,” inter-species differences in sensitivity, metabolic rate, and the role of vitamin K as a reversal agent.
Policy, Governance, and Replicability
- Alberta’s success is cited as proof that determined, coordinated public policy can achieve ambitious eradication goals, alongside examples like malaria, smallpox, and screwworm.
- Others are pessimistic about replicability elsewhere or long-term permanence.
- One commenter contrasts Alberta’s proactive rat policy with Boise’s fragmented, “not our problem” approach.
- There’s debate over whether public programs are necessary or whether private pest control could achieve similar results.
Related Media and Humor
- The thread references podcasts, YouTube videos, film extras, prior HN discussions, and a gopher museum.
- Numerous jokes and puns appear about rats in government, separatists, Tolkien monsters in New Zealand, and cartoonish ACME solutions.