Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Ratting on Rats! The Alberta Invasive Species Council is stepping up efforts to make sure the province remains rat-free.

Alberta is the largest rat-free jurisdiction in the world, a status it has enjoyed for over 70 years, a status it would like to continue for another 70.

Paige Kuczmarski is an Invasive Species Technician with the Alberta Invasive Species Council.

Kuczmarski says rats are notorious carriers of diseases that can spread to humans and animals, posing serious public health risks.

She adds there are different signs that you can look for.

“Checking under the hood of your vehicle, they often chew wires. They’re kind of dirty animals. So if there are any sort of streaks on the walls and stuff like that or they are watching for their feces, they’re very different from a mouse. They’re quite a bit larger and longer,” says Kuczmarski.

RELATED: Alberta Continues the Fight to Keep Invasive Mussels Out

She says rats can cause serious problems for agriculture, starting with infesting the crop itself in the grain bins.

“They can go in there and eat, and then they also can drop their feces and just carry a bunch of different diseases.”

There are about 35 diseases that can impact humans and wildlife.

“We definitely don’t want that near our food sources. They also can create kind of these runways and whatnot in the bales and under them overwintering. So it kind of destroys any sort of use those had and kind of tears up the landscape that you’re. You’re dealing with over there too.”

Kuczmarski notes that the Rat on Rats program was spearheaded by pest specialist Karen Wickerson, who aimed to base it on a successful AISC initiative.

“She wanted to bring a program to life that was similar to the Squeal on Pigs campaign that we do have. There was lots of success there with the outreach and people sending in reports and they always get reports and have for the years since it’s been around. But because there’s so many different people coming into the province, there’s more and more movement with travelling.”

Rats often hitchhike into Alberta on vehicles, cargo, and equipment, making it crucial for everyone to recognize that these pests are not native or established here.

If you spot a rat, you can report it by calling 310-FARM, email rats@gov.ab.ca, contacting your local municipality or using the AISC’s reporting app.