Rat 'invasion' in Auckland as pest control experts report surge in calls

Friday, 14 June 2019

Rat numbers are rising fast across Auckland due to this year's hot summer, experts say.

ACES Pest Control director Owen Stobart said Auckland was under an “invasion” and his firm was responding to almost 10 incidents a day.

Stobart spoke out after residents of West Auckland's Titirangi Village this week complained they were being over-run by 'rats as big as cats'.

“All day long people are calling me regarding rats, it’s double the demand we had last year,” he said. 

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In 2018 ACES Pest Control received three to four call-outs a day, with 50 per cent of them for rats.

This year call-outs have surged to nine a day, with 90 per cent of them for rats. 

Grey Lynn resident Morgan Robertson said he had witnessed a “plague of rats” in his community.

“You can walk along the board walk at Cox's Bay Reserve and they are out in broad daylight every day,” he said.

“The city has a massive rodent infestation.”

However, Waitematā Local Board chairwomen Pippa Coom said she had received no reports of rats at Cox's Bay Reserve. ​

Stobart said rat populations usually swelled after a long, hot summer.

'It provides them with the conditions they need to produce lots of litters,' he said.

'Now we're getting some cold snaps, they're all getting cold and they're wanting to get inside.'

Warmer temperatures were also linked to a rise in wasp numbers last month.

Stobart said Grey Lynn had a long-established rat population.

“They’ve been there for maybe 100 years and have become more numerous because of the good weather.”