Our Gloomtown Rats

One is not a mouse…

spike in rat numbers down along Greystones seafront has been put down to food waste.

With The Cove in particular proving a hive of activity, the increase in half-eaten snacks and takeaways has resulted in, says town engineer Ruairi O’Hanlon, attracting rats and helping them to maintain a sustainable colony.

“Some of the planting along the coast also provides good cover,” he continues. “It’s a problem that the council is aware of and has been monitoring for some time.

“We will be putting out bait boxes on Friday with signage to advise the public as to what the boxes are for.

“The public should be encouraged to be vigilant in tidying up after themselves and either bring their waste home with them or use one of the many public bins provided along the coastal walk.”

O’Hanlon is quick to point out that rats are pretty much part and parcel of everyday life and in an urban area, a person is likely to be within 50 metres of a rat at any given time. And whilst they have a bad reputation, there is no real danger posed by them, if left alone.

Instead, try not to drink the stagnant water. Or sit in it.

“Stagnant pools of water would be something to watch out for,” says O’Hanlon. “Weil’s Disease is carried by animals, most commonly in rats and cattle – although the cows seem to escape the bad reputation – and can be caught by humans through contact with rat or cattle urine, most commonly occurring through contaminated fresh water.

“If anyone has persistent flu-like symptoms and it’s not Covid, an easy one to check for. It is worth mentioning to the doctor that you were near a stream, river or pools of stagnant water.”

You can find out more about our fast and furriest friends right here.