Alberta’s legendary rat-free status takes a hit after one dead rat appears
A province famous for treating rats like an invading army had to call in its literal 'Rat Patrol' after a single dead rodent turned up.
Alberta has spent more than 70 years defending its unusual claim to be essentially rat-free. That reputation took a hit when the town of Bowden reported finding a dead rat and asked residents to watch for signs of more.
Why this is wild
Alberta really does operate a formal Rat Control Program, and residents are encouraged to report sightings. One dead rat is enough to trigger an investigation because the province has treated rat eradication as a long-running border-defense project.
The bigger thing hiding underneath
The story is funny, but rat populations are increasing in many cities as warmer conditions, food availability and dense urban environments help them thrive.