City of Sydney to double number of rat baits after dog deaths

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has acted after a highly contagious bacterial disease spread through the urine of rats is believed to have claimed the lives of seven dogs in recent months.

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Sydney’s ratcatchers are doubling down on their efforts to kill off the city’s rodents after they were linked to a string of dog deaths.

A highly contagious bacterial disease spread through the urine of rats is believed to have claimed the lives of seven dogs in inner-city Sydney in recent months.

And vets have issued a warning about the outbreak of leptospirosis, which can also be fatal in humans.

The City of Sydney released a statement yesterday morning saying rat populations had been stirred by an “unprecedented number of major construction and infrastructure projects”.

The City of Sydney will double the number of rat baits. Picture: Bill Hearne

ord Mayor Clover Moore said the council would double the number of rat bait stations in public areas and increase inspections to monitor rat activity as it was “very concerned by the recent cases of leptospirosis in Sydney, affecting dogs in our local area”.

“We will now have 860 rat bait stations in public areas and will place additional baits out when we receive complaints from residents and businesses,” Ms Moore said.

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“We can’t fight the rat problem on our own, because we can only install rat baits on our own land. The City has written to Sydney Trains, Property NSW, Sydney Water and NSW Land and Housing Corporation to urge them to increase baiting and monitoring of rats on their land.

“We also need residents and businesses to take care with food scraps and other waste. Our regulatory staff will continue to target poor waste management practices and illegal dumping in hot spots.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council was “very concerned”.

A City of Sydney spokesman said dogs would not be able to access the rat baits.

“The City only distributes rodenticide inside secured bait stations in accordance with industry best practice,” he said.

A Department of Planning, Industry and Environment spokesperson said the agency was “aware of increased rat activity in parts of East Circular Quay and The Rocks, driven largely by construction work in the area disrupting rat nests within the seawall”.

A highly contagious bacterial disease spread through the urine of rats is believed to have claimed the lives of seven dogs. Picture: Bill Hearne

“We are continuing to work with our pest service provider, precinct tenants and stakeholders to manage the issue,” they said.

“This includes installing additional rodent bait stations around the affected area and working with tenants to ensure bins and premises are secure. We now have a total of 800 rat bait stations.”

City of Sydney Senior Pest Control Officer Wesley Bodill. Picture: Brett Costello

More than 135 City of Sydney staff (including Wesley Bodill) monitor rats as part of their duties while 25 environmental health officers regularly inspect food premises and shopping centres.