2012-03-14: Joburg looking at nature's way to eradicate rats

THE City of Johannesburg will be launching the Owl Box Pilot Project as nature's way to eradicate rats in Alexandra on Friday 16 March 2012 at Three Square Sport Complex.

There are three natural ways to eradicate rats which include owls, rat cages and fumigation. The City will be opting for the owl solution to address the rat infestation in Alexandra. In order to achieve this natural process the City has partnered with EcoSolutions among others.

This project will be running in Alexandra for the next three years, and has so far involved educating the local communities and schools on the role that owls play in eradicating rats. The education covered the myth and beliefs on witch craft in relation owls. 

The City and EcoSolutions have been working with three schools in Alexandra namely Zenzeleni Primary School, Iphuteng Primary School and Minerva Secondary School for the introduction of the owl project. The owl nesting and release boxes have been installed in all three schools.

EcoSolutions with the City of Johannesburg first presented this concept to the learners and community, who have shown enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about owls.

This has helped them to learn and understand the role that owls play in controlling and managing rodent populations. To encourage community participation in the project a selected team of school children will be feeding the owls for twenty one (21) days with food provided for by Ecosolutions.

Prevention is, however, the best solution for rat control. We have to eliminate the conditions in which the rodents thrive and for this we need the active co-operation of all residents of Johannesburg.

The City of Johannesburg directorate for Environmental Health is responsible for vector control and is currently operating in all seven regions of the City of Johannesburg to eliminate rodents.

Illegal dumping and the careless disposal of food and waste material are still the primary causes of rodent infestation. Illegal dumping attracts rodents and provides them with a comfortable environment to nest and continue breeding.

Johannesburg residents can contribute to the "battle against the rats" by taking a number of practical steps:

Household waste should be wrapped in plastic bags and placed in the waste containers provided by Pikitup. The dustbins must be kept closed.
Dirty dishwater containing scraps of food must not be poured into catch pits or in open spaces. The small pieces of leftover food attract the rats resulting in a much bigger infestation problem over time.
Open spaces, vacant lands and parks should be kept clean from rubble as it provides a fertile environment for rats. Illegal dumping is a serious offence and the city is currently taking strong steps against serial polluters who contravene public health by-laws.
Buildings should be "rat-proofed" to prevent the rodents from gaining access. All holes in exterior walls should be closed off.
Report any public health nuisance that might contribute towards breeding rodents to City of Johannesburg Environmental Health (Pest Control) on 011 582 1533, operators will be dispatched to assist.
The City of Johannesburg is confident that we can beat the rats through our prevention and clean-up operations. But we need the participation and support of all residents to look after their own, immediate environment.

It is important to highlight to the local communities that during the three years of using owls to eradicate rats, people of Alexandra should avoid using poisonous pest control ways such as pellets to kill the rats. Should an owl eat a poisoned rat, the poison would have the same effect on the owl. Resident can however, use an owl friendly poison, e.g. Racumin.

For more information please contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Specialist
City of Johannesburg Public Liaison Department
Tel: (011) 407 - 6477
Cell: 083 408 7787
E-mail: nkosinathin@joburg.org.za