Just as the FBI has a most wanted list, B&NES has a most wanted animals list. Or rather a most wanted 'do not feed' animals list.
It is interesting the rat is on it.Do council tax payers know if you want to get rid of rats, you have to pay B&NES for the pleasure of it?
Whatever happened to the rat being a health hazard and their numbers must be kept down at all cost? This cash-saving policy seems as short- sighted as council tax payers being denied toilets in the suburbs.
For decades I only ever saw one rat, when they were filling in the Brassmill allotments to build Rotork, now the insidious little creatures are everywhere. Is the B&NES policy wise to let their numbers rise? The link with human health is well known, notably the Black Death.
Our local cats are aware of them, but aren't interested. Although a neighbour's cat did excitedly take one back to the house - only for it to escape into the house!
Gulls depart: rats don't.
I would argue not all of the animals on the council list aren't welcome. Some years ago foxes used to come into our garden. It was a delight to see them in the moonlight. I would accept they might be a menace scavenging in town but in the suburbs? Yes, we were tempted to put out scraps but didn't. They still came back.
I've only ever seen one badger, and that was dead! So I can't imagine we're too overrun with these creatures. Perhaps the council should accept what might be a menace in town, isn't always in the suburbs.
Whatever next, some bright spark saying we can't feed wild birds?
Peter Burns Avon Park Lower Weston Bath
Image may be NSFW.
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