Phones in Vancouver have been ringing off the hook with complaints about rats that are taking over the city streets amid a crippling municipal strike, officials say.
The medical health officer has said the increased number of rats in the city doesn't pose a health risk but that hasn't stopped residents from voicing their concern.
Since Vancouver's municipal workers went on strike July 19, suspending regular pick-up of garbage and other city services, complaints about rats have gone up 5 per cent according to Liyaquat Ali, western Canadian regional manager for Orkin PCO Services pest control.
Most of the complaints have come from East Vancouver businesses and homeowners. However, residences will likely suffer the most from rodents as most businesses have signed up for private garbage pick-up.
"You will have lots of rats running around," Ali told the Canadian Press. "The garbage strike is one way to increase the population."
"The rats are starting to come out of their nesting areas and feeding on the garbage," he continued. "The population is growing."
A female rat can give birth to 60 young in an 18-month period. They stay pregnant for about three weeks.
Dr. Patricia Daly, medical health officer for Vancouver's Coastal Health Authority, said the increase in rats is unpleasant, but not unhealthy.
"We know we have rats whether or not we have a garbage strike," she said. "If the rodent population does increase, it is not a risk to the public."
People are being advised to keep their wet kitchen garbage in rodent-free containers to avoid attracting the pests.
In the meantime, Vancouver residents are doing their part to minimize the garbage impact on the city.
At a fireworks display over English Bay and other beaches that drew thousands, spectators were adamant on taking care of their own trash.
"I'm going to use my backpack to dispose of all my garbage tonight," one spectator told CTV News British Columbia while sitting on a beach blanket with her friends.
"If everybody would do their part and take away their trash, then it would make everyone's life easier," said another woman.
With both outside and inside civic workers on strike, there are about 600 managers to do the work of more than 5,000 workers.
The job action means delays in everything from new-home construction to minor renovations as inspectors or city crews aren't available to hook up water and sewer connections.
The last two municipal strikes since 1997 lasted up to two months.
This time around, the length of contracts is the main issue. The city wants a 39-month contract but with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games coming to town, the unions don't want to have to renegotiate in the face of potential cost overruns and cuts.
The two sides met on Saturday but talks quickly broke off. The city said the union's proposal is too expensive.
However, transfer stations in the area are booming with business because of the strike. Line-ups at the North Vancouver station are so long, they are causing traffic backups near Hwy. 1. Meanwhile the Coquitlam station became overwhelmed when residents of other districts came to unload their garbage. Police are now asking people to dispose of their waste during off-peak hours.
With reports from CTV British Columbia and files from The Canadian Press
