Letter: Don't be tolerant, eradicate that rat

Sir: Your article 'Get ready for Son of Super Rat' (4 April) contained an inaccuracy. A brown rat cannot become resistant or tolerant to anticoagulant poison in its lifetime. It is either born tolerant to a rodenticide or it is susceptible. If a male that is tolerant breeds with a susceptible female, 50 per cent of the young will be susceptible to a particular rodenticide and 50 per cent would be tolerant.

On reading Wendy Barker's letter (6 April) on whether she should do anything regarding the brown rat in her garden, the answer is yes, as her rat may be a tolerant female and one of the 50 per cent or so that carry Weil's disease, which is only passed by the female to her young. Also, under the 1949 Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, it is an offence to harbour rats on your property and not to take reasonable measures to eradicate them.

Yours sincerely,

J. E. FELGATE

Pest Control Officer

Bredgar, Kent

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