KIND-HEARTED people in Staindrop may inadvertently be the source of a vermin problem.
The alarm about rat infestations in parts of the village was first raised during Staindrop Parish Council’s meeting in December, but it has since emerged that the problem may be caused by people who are being over enthusiastic when leaving food out for birds.
Parish clerk Judith Mashiter reported during the council’s January meeting that she had been in touch with the county’s environmental health department, which had said it could write a letter to residents providing them with “six golden rules” on how to feed birds in a way that does not attract rats.
Chairman Cllr David Reed said complaints had been received along North Green, Moor Road, Gregory Close and South Green. He said: “There has been a lot of people complaining about seeing rats in the village. Well, we don’t know [if bird feeding is the cause]. You don’t know where rats come from, but that could be one of the problems. There could be a hole in the sewer, we just don’t know.
“It is just common sense; we are saying don’t put too much out. We are not saying don’t feed birds.”
Reciting the six golden rules, Mrs Mashiter said: “Don’t put out too much food; keep moving it, don’t keep it in the same place; keep it off the ground if possible; keep it clean; use special anti-squirrel bird feeders; and don’t leave food out overnight.”
She revealed that some of the information sent by the county council had an international source and had probably been lifted off the internet – much to the bemusement of the parish council. She said: “Very strangely, they also sent this little flyer called ‘birdfeeders and rats’. This is from Durham County Council’s environment department – it is published in 2009 by The Seattle and King County environmental health services, in America.
“I just thought they have spelled ‘neighbor’ wrong, and then I went through it all [and discovered who published it].”
