Alberta is celebrating 75 years of keeping rats out of the province, a rare achievement the government says has saved millions of dollars in damages and helped protect public health.“Rats are a worldwide menace that destroy property and spread disease,” said Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson in a statement Monday. “For three quarters of a century, Alberta has proudly been one of the few jurisdictions on Earth to live without the pest.”.The province’s Rat Control Program began in 1950 with a zero-tolerance approach to infestations. Any confirmed presence of rats is swiftly eradicated, Sigurdson said, helping to preserve the province’s reputation and prevent the spread of deadly diseases.Sigurdson credited the long-running success to the efforts of agricultural fieldmen, pest control officers, municipalities in the Rat Control Zone, and provincial staff.Albertans are encouraged to continue their vigilance by reporting suspected rat sightings through 310-FARM or by emailing rats@gov.ab.ca.“We are so proud to celebrate this success as we mark 75 years rat-free,” Sigurdson said.
