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Courtenay council looking into rats and rain barrels

Rain and rats were on the mind of Courtenay city councillor Rebecca Lennox during this past month.
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The metal Speedibin, invented in the Comox Valley, keeps rats away from compost

Rain and rats were on the mind of Courtenay city councillor Rebecca Lennox during this past month.

Counc. Lennox proposed two motions June 19 calling on staff to prepare reports on the costs of becoming involved in buying rain barrels in bulk to sell to citizens.

And that’s along with a similar idea for rat-proof composting containers.

The rat motion really struck a spark around the council table.

“Counc. Lennox has a really good direction here. I believe we have a rat issue … have you checked your vehicles lately?

“I think we need to expand on this one,” Counc. Manno Theos said.

Counc. Doug Hillian said he was tempted to expand the motion to see if a piper is available.

“Just being flippant,” he said, adding “I don’t know what we’ve done in the past in this regard. I’d be interested to know if staff have any thoughts on this.”

CAO Dave Allen said rats are “a significant issue” in the city. He said he himself had to buy a rat-proof composter.

“They’re a problem everywhere. I think it’s a much bigger issue … I don’t know if it’s the nature of the area,” he said.

Mayor Larry Jangua said he receives “loads of complaints” about rats.

“The neighbourhood I live in didn’t have rats three years ago,” he said. “I don’t know if they go in peaks, high or low. It’s a problem for the whole community.”

Last fall, local car repair shops were swamped with vehicles damaged by chewing rats.

But in addition to vehicles, rat damage is increasingly showing up in homes, said Mike Pagon, an exterminator with 37 years of experience and owner of local company Pacific Coastal Pet Control.

“It’s getting worse and worse,” he said last November. “Because the rat population is growing faster and faster.”

“They’re getting smarter too. They’re coming in everywhere.”