Bay Roberts may go with plastic trash boxes to beat the rats

By Mark Squibb/October 21, 2022

“How’s the rodents situation?”

It was a question put to Director of Protective Services Justin Parsons by Mayor Walter Yetman during last week’s meeting of Bay Roberts council.

“Are they down from last year?” asked Yetman.

“They’re down from last year, but it’s not good,” said Parsons.

Councillor Silas Badcock said that someone had approached him that week with rodent concerns.

Mayor Yetman said a switchover to plastic garbage bins will likely help with the situation.

“It won’t get rid of them, but it will certainly help,” said Yetman.

“Definitely,” agreed Parsons. “We need to, coming up on budget time now in the next few weeks, we really have to take a good consideration on some kind of measure, I think.”

Yetman said he knows firsthand that wooden garbage boxes are bad for both residents and staff when it comes to rats.

Councilors Badcock and Frank Deering agreed the town was “full of them,” and that they were “everywhere.”
“And it’s not only this town, it’s every town,” added Deering.

Parsons said that pest control measures have to be budgeted adequately, and, as to Deering and Badcock’s point, noted that he’s gotten calls from all over town.

Yetman said that aside from open garbage bins, the keeping of livestock and pets, and all the trappings that come with those animals, can also attract rats.

“So, are we responsible for that?” asked Yetman. “Do we go in and fix these problems?”

Deering noted that neighbours living alongside such residents end up with rat infestations of their own.

The matter was set aside for further discussions.