Al Ain makes ready for invasion of summer rats

Al Ain // The city's growth has left authorities expecting an increase in unwanted residents - rats. The Abu Dhabi Centre of Waste Management is working with two companies to set traps and bait stations throughout Al Ain's southern and northern sectors and has asked residents to support them in their battle against the rodents. "Summer is the time for rodents to increase in numbers and be active," a spokesman for the centre said yesterday.

"Rodents are leaving open areas for residential neighbourhoods due to urban expansion in Al Ain and changes in the sewage infrastructure as conversion from the traditional sewage networks to regular sewage networks are made." The spokesman appealed to the public not to remove the traps or tamper with them. It was hoped that residents would "co-operate with the pest control team by keeping the rat traps in their places and to follow cleaning instructions, dispose of rubbish in its designated places for the sake of public interest and to keep the city clean and tidy".

The pest control company Orkin, and AlphaMed, a company with interests in pharmaceutical products, are providing about 100 staff to set the traps. [e-mail]