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 warned.

Dozens 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) said.

Patricia 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 days.

DCSDC said they had acted following an escalation in rodent activity in the area.

It 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 an investigation by its environmental health team had determined that rodents had been using planters as routes to travel from their nesting area to access food sources.

Officials are now liaising with landowners in the area to recommend introducing stringent pest-control measures, including the cutting back of any overgrown shrubbery that may provide coverage.

"The public are also reminded to dispose responsibly of any food waste around picnic and seating areas that could attract rodents," a council spokesperson said.

"Public health remains our top priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely."

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."

David Greer is a certified field biologist who runs his own pest control business in County Antrim.

He 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."