The following is a copy of a letter sent to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, and the Fayette County Water Authority, Aug. 14, 2006.

We are bringing to your attention that we are seeing an increase in the population of the animal Rattus norvegicus, commonly known as Norway, brown or wharf rat. These animals are concentrated at the Lake Horton Park on the Lake Horton Reservoir, at the end of Horton Road. We are seeing the greatest concentration in the area at the end of the causeway at the Lake Horton Park, around the picnic pavilion and walking trails.

The animals are growing accustomed to the presence of park patrons and currently allow people to approach to less than 12 feet before fleeing. We have observed several, 12 to 18, moving in mass across the walking trails in broad daylight. They are now out of hiding both morning and evening.

We reported the sighting to two Fayette County marshals that were driving through the park Sunday morning, Aug. 13. They responded with appreciation for the report. They said they too had seen the infestation and reported it to the Fayette County Water Department, the agency that manages the lake and park. They also indicated that the reports have not brought any action to bring a remedy to the problem.

We are concerned for the safety of our dog that we walk daily on the trail, our neighbors, and ourselves. We will remind you that the wharf rat has been the carrier of diseases such as Weil’s disease, cryptosporidiosis, viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), Q fever and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattus_norvegicus).

We would not want to see the rats becoming so familiar with people as to allow children to approach close enough to touch the wild animal. We are also concerned for the safety of the environment and would not want to see poisons in the form of dry food grain pellets widely scattered, which birds and squirrels will feed on as well.

We would urge the infestation be controlled through trapping and elimination. This would give officials a census of the population, and a real and accurate accounting of the effectiveness for the eradication program.

Bryant and Yvonne Betsill
Fayetteville, Ga.