There have been concerns about an increase in rats on the CREOS paths this spring. The brown rat is a native species living in both rural and urban areas and therefore to be expected in a woodland site; they are an important part of the ecosystem and their numbers fluctuate naturally, according to seasons and the availability of food. Due to the recent dry weather there has been an increase in eating outdoors in the Crouch End Open Space with a new cafe at the Georgians Club and several catered events at the Hanley Club. There have been more visitors with picnics too. It is therefore not surprising that rat numbers have increased.
Rats normally avoid people and are not likely to spread disease outdoors. Haringey’s pest control officer has said: “It is important to realise that in the absence of direct contact between humans and rats, disease transmission is unlikely to occur. Therefore the current rodent population poses little risk to human health.”
To allay fears, however, and to avoid the increased number spreading towards nearby homes, we have raised the issue with the Shepherds Cot Trust. They have written to the clubs on site to ask them to take particular care with waste management and take appropriate action such as more bins and/or more frequent collection. If the food supply is reduced, then rat numbers will decrease naturally. The SCT are also seeking professional advice. It is important to find a solution that avoids the indiscriminate use of pesticides that will enter the food chain and kill other creatures, including household pets!
