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Aylesham – we have a problem

... and it’s RATS

By David Britnell, Aylesham Hub
Rats are a fairly common sight lying around in the village. Be that unsecured wind-
around areas of farmland but blown litter from bin bags left out and bin lids left up,
to items that are dropped by careless individuals.
something that is becoming Here are a few facts about rats that you may, or may
more and more apparent not, know.
Rats have strong teeth that can chew through glass,
is that the village is slowly cinder block, wire, aluminum and lead.
getting a larger population. Two compatible brown rats can produce 15,000 rats
There are multiple reasons for the increase of rats in only 1 year. They become fertile at 3 weeks old and
around the village, the pandemic has obviously had can breed till the age of 2years old with the average
an impact as the rats would congregate around places litter being between 6-20 babies.
such as schools and offices due to the amount of waste
that’s normally produced there but with their closure Rats are what is known as neophobic, meaning they
the rats have had to start foraging further afield for are afraid of trying new things. This makes it difficult
food. to introduce a trusted food source to them as a lure
or bait.
Another reason is the amount of litter that is left

Neil Scrivener Stonemason

Neil Scrivener

Monumental Stonemason
kentstone@hotmail.co.uk

01304 820882 07970 810342

Ackholt Road, Aylesham CT3 3AJ

kentstonemason.co.uk

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