Rattus has heard some worrying news about Bird Flu.
There have been more than 40 outbreaks in the UK and over half a million chickens slaughtered.
This doesn’t affect rats as the rodent control policies on IPU’s make these units dangerous places for rats.
Backyard chicken keepers are supposed to keep their hens inside so they don’t mix with wild birds.
This seems ridiculous as over half the avian biomass at this time of year are free range pheasants.
They are allowed to roam free and mix with wild birds under bird feeders. I think the public is getting used to inconsistent and illogical diktats from politicians. It is similar to ‘work from home and then go to the office party’.
What worries Rattus is either the complete banning of free range pheasants or poultry that feed an army of rats in winter. The pheasant keepers are particularly generous and not only spread grain along tracks but set up feeders in woodland. These are perfect for rats and act as motorway service stations for rats moving about the country. They attract loads of wild birds, some of whom have no doubt brought Bird flu from Russia.
Rattus rattus
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