To the editor:
Re: “City hall doesn’t smell a rat,” Jan. 9.
I was relieved to read that I am not the only one with a rat problem. I must confess that I never thought to call the city. I never knew they would do anything but I guess I should have given them the opportunity.
I am well into my sixth decade of life and saw my very first rat in my East Vancouver back yard early last summer. Over the course of three to five months, I trapped/killed over 12 rats who seemed extremely attracted to the shed under my house in which I store my only garden furnishings. There is no food or food-like substance in the shed with which to tempt them but they keep coming back.
If city hall wants to smell a rat, they are welcome to come to my home and while they are here, perhaps they would like to smell the chafer beetle grubs which have been feeding the crows for the past two months. I also keep a stove pipe over one of my porch posts to prevent the raccoons from climbing onto my roof, creating havoc and holes so that the rain falls into my house. Ah, life in East Vancouver — alive with nature!
Jennifer Fleming,
Vancouver
•••
To the editor,
Mike Howell neglects to inform residents of Vancouver what they should do regarding a rat sighting. Most of us tend to be repulsed and go in the opposite direction, which will do nothing to solve the problem.
In fact, residents are advised to throw a container over the offender (an empty refuse container ideally) and phone 311 to request removal of the rodent. The city will send somebody out the same day to remove the culprit, and that way they become aware of the extent of the problem. They will also remove dead rats should you have one deposited on your doorstep by a hunting feline.
My experience is that removal includes weekend pickups. This is a humane method of dealing with the issue, and gives city staff a reasonable indication of whether or not the problem is extensive.
Betty Kosel,
Vancouver
