City of Swift Current Launches New Rat Control Efforts

For further information, please contact The Provincial Council of Agricluture Development and Diversification (ADD) Boards for Saskatchewan or The Cypress Health Region.

Contact List for Information on Pest Control

Notice to Residents of the City of Swift Current

PCAB Pest Control

In the past, City Hall had received calls from the Public reporting the sightings of rats at various locations thoughout the City.

Should you sight a live rat, please report the details to the City of Swift Current Engineering Department at 778-2740.  The City's Bylaw personnel will investigate and provide advice to the property owner on what action to take should a problem be identified.

As well, please report the location of any dead rat to the Engineering Department and the City will recover it as soon as possible.

The Provincial Pest Control Act identifies that the responsibility for controlling and destroying pests resides with every person who owns land and buildings, occupies lands and buildings, or controls land.

The City is carrying out inspections of its facilities and city-owned properties to ensure it is in compliance with the regulations of this act.

In addition, the City Bylaws require all properties to be kept neat and orderly.  One of the major reasons for this bylaw, is in fact, to deter pests such as rats from inhabiting these messy properties causing the problem to increase.  Accumulation of debris, garbage, lack of building maintenance, etc. are all factors in attracting pests, including rodents.

Here are some tips to follow to deter pests from inhabiting your property:

• Do not allow debris to accumulate on your property;

• Keep firewood neatly stacked and off the ground;

• All sheds should be on either cement or crushed rock to prevent pests from burrowing underneath;

• Secure garbage in containers with lids for disposal;

• Inspect all buildings regularly for signs of pests.

The City of Swift Current, at times, may find that there are unwanted deer residing within the City limits.  Although this may be a concern to some residents, the City of Swift Current has no jurisdiction in this matter.

Concerned residents can contact Saskatchewan Environment for details and information. (1-306-778-8205).

The City of Swift Current is home to a large number of crows each Spring. The parent and young will return to the same nesting area each year, naturally resulting in an increase in numbers.

Should you experience nesting pairs in your area which are causing a problem, you can contact the Engineering Department at 1-306-778-2740.

The City of Swift Current does not send anyone to help with the removal of wasp nests contained in your yard or attached to your home. It is the home owners' responsibility to remove the nest.

Exterminators can be located in the phone book or you can purchase an off the shelf product call "Wasp and Hornet" killer. This is an aerosol spray, that when used according to directions, is an effective method of killing the wasps.

The City does do gopher maintenance in all City Parks, but are not able to cover all vacant land within City limits. Residents are asked to take care of gophers on their own private property.

Acceptable methods of eliminating gophers on private property are:

• drowning.
• use of vehicle exhaust.
• snares.
• poison (ensure placement is deep inside the gopher holes to eliminate other animals/birds from ingesting the poison).

Over the past few years, squirrels have grown in population within City limits. The City, at this time, does not have any form of squirrel control.

We do ask residents to stop the feeding of squirrels, as they cause damage to neighboring yards when burying the food.