The Economic Depression is Causing Rat Problems

The AJC reported that hundreds of vacant, foreclosed buildings are causing a serious rat problem in Fulton & Dekalb Counties. Rats have taken up resident in vacant buildings. There are two kinds of rats in Georgia, the Norway Rat or Brown Sewer Rat and the Roof Rat aka the Black or Ship Rat. Health officials say no one knows how many rats are in Metro Atlanta. Rats multiply rapidly and cause serious health problems that can infect humans. These rats carry viruses that infect humans, causing fever, nausea, kidney problems, organ failure and even death. People can be infected by contact with rat urine, urine contaminated water or rat fleas. Exterminators can’t keep up with the problem.

During the Middle Ages the ship rat caused the Bubonic plague that killed half of the population in Europe. Fairy tales of that period envisioned a pied-piper who rid the cities of rats by playing a flute that mesmerized all the rats to follow the piper to the river where they drowned. Maybe Tyrone and other cities could hire a pied-piper to rid all their vacant building of rats. The piper could start with Tyrone Town Hall.

Since Pied-Pipers are hard to find these days, another solution is more practical and effective and was used during the Middle Ages. Where there is a cat you will not find a rat. Instead of killing homeless cats like they did in Tyrone last year, (one man even shot them) these cats could be housed in vacant buildings. Thereby, saving thousands of cat lives to provide a free public health service.

Yes, I second the rat solution

Submitted by PreciousStahr on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 7:02pm.

Every week, my cat brings a dead mouse to my doorstep and says, look here, I’ve done my job. Now feed me. Using homeless cats is a great idea.

Many people pick up homeless cats and try to find them a home. Tyrone Mayor Don Rehwaldt’s wife Charla works tirelessly collecting donations for a non-profit cat shelter, called “Rescue Cats Inc.” Charla gets donation from local businesses. One business owner has collected $325 for her in the last 4 months. Charla also baby sits cats for people going out of Town.

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Rat Problems

Submitted by gardenreaderjoe on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:10pm.

The rat population is definitely on the increase and it can be a costly expense in attempting to keep them away. The best product we have found that has a very low cost factor is the Rat Zapper. It is an electronic rat and mouse trap that eliminates your rodent problem. Here is a good online source, RatMouseZapper

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The bronze rat:

Submitted by carbonunit52 on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 1:56pm.

The Story

"I can't wait until tomorrow, because I become more lovable every day."

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