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BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Londonderry: Rat sightings fall as investigations continues
Rat sightings have dropped on Londonderry's riverfront, which had been plagued by large numbers of the rodents earlier this City and Strabane District Council said environmental health experts had visited Queen's Quay on Tuesday and had not observed any number of rodent reports received from the public over recent days has also fallen, the local authority week, a pest control expert warned a huge number of rats were enjoying a "five star all-inclusive holiday" on Derry's quay. At that time, pest control business owner Patricia Page said an area of the quay had become home to a "significant rat infestation"."They have all their needs, it's like a five star all-inclusive holiday for them, they have even got the sunshine," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today of rats were first spotted on the quay - an area popular with families, walkers and cyclists – in early May, with many videos of the rodents being shared on social media. The council said environment health officers had revisited the area on Tuesday as part of ongoing a spokeswoman said, they were looking at the "potential sites providing harbourage to rodents"."Officers have been liaising with local businesses in the area who have been proactively working to introduce a range of measures to deter rodents, and further works are planned to reduce the shrubbery growth providing shelter," the spokeswoman council is asking the public to continue to adhere to the public health guidance around the disposal of food and rubbish to "help ensure the problem does not reoccur".
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Derry's riverside rats 'enjoying five star all-inclusive holiday'
Huge numbers of rats are enjoying a "five star all-inclusive holiday" on one of Londonderry's most popular riverfront walkways, a pest control expert has of rats have been spotted in the last week on Queen's Quay, an area frequently used by families, walkers and cyclists.A number of measures have now been put in place to interrupt the rats' "transit routes", Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) Page, owner of a pest and rodent control business in the north west, said it appeared a large colony had set up home on the quay, adding it is a real "cause for concern". Footage of the rats first emerged last week. There have been further daily sightings over recent said they had acted following an escalation in rodent activity in the has "implemented immediate measures to assist local landowners and businesses to address this issue". Ms Page told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme there would always be rats on the riverfront."If you have food and water and harbourage, you have a perfect storm there for rat activity," she said."They have all their needs, it's like a five star all-inclusive holiday for them, they have even got the sunshine."When you see rats out and about during the day and in those numbers, then I am afraid you have a significant rat infestation."She urged the Derry public and business to play their part in getting rid of the rats. "A lot of it is to do with us, people leaving food behind. Remove the food and the harbourage and they won't be secure, they will go," she said."It's vital people don't leave any rubbish behind, that businesses' bins are not overfilled." However the scale of the colony means a controlled riddance programme will most likely be required, she added."They have a right to live, but you do not want to send those rats everywhere. You do not want them to scatter," she said. The council said site assessments have been carried out by its environmental health investigation determined the rodents had been using the planters as routes to travel from their nesting area to access food sources."The council is taking proactive steps to ensure the swift resolution of this situation, including the removal of some of planters in order to disrupt these pathways," a council spokeswoman added. Foyle SDLP assembly Mark H Durkan filmed the rats he encountered while out running."I run the quay regularly and have done for years. I have seen the odd little four-legged friend – that is to be expected on the riverfront – but never anything like this," he said."You can't have a rat population like this in an area used so much by the public. I would ask everyone to be careful about what they do with their litter." 'Rat numbers are exploding' David Greer is a certified field biologist who runs his own pest control business in County told BBC News NI the situation on the riverfront in Derry was playing out in other areas."As a business we can't keep up with demand for our services," he said. "Rat numbers are exploding, their numbers are greater than we have seen for some time. Once it gets out of control, it is very hard to get it back."
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
NI council reveals findings of investigation into ‘rodent activity' on busy walkway after ‘concerning' video emerges
After a video showing dozens of rats scurrying along the quayside in the city was shared online, Derry and Strabane District Council began an investigation. The council has now said that it has 'implemented immediate measures to assist local landowners and businesses to address this issue'. The council added that its Environmental Health team has determined that rodents were not nesting within the area of the planters on the quayside, but were using the planters as 'transit routes' to access food elsewhere. A spokesperson added: 'The Council is taking proactive steps to ensure the swift resolution of this situation, including the removal of some of planters in order to disrupt these pathways. "We are also actively engaging with relevant third-party landowners in the vicinity to ensure comprehensive pest control measures are implemented across the area. Public health remains our top priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.' The video, which received over 500,000 views on TikTok, shows dozens of rats scurrying around the popular walkway. Ciaran Faulkner, who captured the footage, said the video 'didn't really do it justice', as there were many more of the vermin running around. He added that he'd never seen so many rats in the area. He said: 'It seems to be getting worse — and around food places; it just isn't good. 'How could you not be concerned for health and safety?' Patricia Page from North West Pest Control said that the rodents appearing from the planters is 'indicative of a bad issue', and gave her insight for how the problem could be combatted. 'You'll generally only see rats during the day if there's competition for food,' she said. 'In that particular video it's clear to see that there's quite an overgrowth of vegetation. In my opinion I would advise cutting that way back to minimise harbourage.' The pest expert added: 'I would either put them flat on the ground or ideally raise them up a bit more. "If the rat doesn't feel secure in a particular environment then they'll move on." Derry City and Strabane People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said: 'Sightings of rodents along the quay are concerning, especially for establishments providing food.' He added that he would 'urge businesses and everyone using the area to ensure all possible steps are taken to ensure health and safety are the priority'.
