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'Super rats are roaming Oxford'
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| Prof Rob Smith |
Mutant super-rats' which are immune to some poisons are now roaming Oxford, according to a rodent expert.
Prof Rob Smith made the claim after extracting DNA from a dead Oxford rat's tail and conducting molecular tests.
He said that he had found the same resistant gene mutation he previously found in the resilient rats in Hampshire.
The rodents have been labelled super-rats by Prof Smith, Dean of Applied Sciences at Huddersfield University.
The rats are stronger thanks to an ability to resist the usual kind of poisons laid out to kill off the pests.
Oxford City Council has insisted its poison is working and has asked to see Prof Smith's report.
But Dr Frances Kennett, from Jericho, who has campaigned against fortnightly waste collection, said the emergence of super rats meant the city council should immediately return to weekly waste collections.
Prof Smith said: "This form of rat has been found in the past across the South East, in the countryside in Berkshire, Hampshire and parts of Oxfordshire, but this is the first time the super rat has been found in Oxford city.
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| Dr Frances Kennett |
"There are still some poisons that can be used against super rats, but they are so toxic that they cannot be used outdoors.
"The environmental health department dealing with outbreaks of rats will find that if certain types of poisons are no longer effective they will have to use traps.
"We know from a study based in Oxford that rats can carry up to 14 diseases including salmonella and Weil's disease, which can prove fatal."
Prof Smith said the super rat test was conducted after Oxford residents linked rat sightings to the switch to fortnightly waste collections.
He said: "The Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs, used to monitor the spread of rats' resistance to poison, but stopped 12 years ago and the Department of Health does not seem to have any interest in rats either.
"These resistant rats eat poison and are not affected by it so they become parcels of poison running around."
Dr Frances Kennett, 62, last year withheld her council tax after claiming her home was overrun by rats following the switch to fortnightly collection.
She said: "I am appalled that these rats are apparently no longer responding to certain poisons and I feel this justifies my point about the need to return to weekly waste collections. My drains have been relined at a cost of £1,400, but it has not made any difference - I am still getting rats."
Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, said: "Our environmental health team tell us there is no evidence that their standard poisons are not working and they would like to see a detailed report from Prof Smith.
"The suggestion that Oxford is being over-run by super rats is just not right - something killed the rat in the first place that was used for these tests.
"The switch to fortnightly collections has not led to an increase in the number of rats in Oxford."
6:09am Saturday 29th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: M Stoneman, Suffolk on 7:05am Sat 29 Mar 08
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.
Posted by: Comedian, Oxford on 7:21am Sat 29 Mar 08
When I read the headline I thought it was referrring to local politicians
When I read the headline I thought it was referrring to local politicians
Posted by: Bob, oxford on 8:19am Sat 29 Mar 08
Super Rats, or is that the new name for the Hoodie thugs
Super Rats, or is that the new name for the Hoodie thugs
Posted by: conmancam, oxford counciltaxpayer on 9:06am Sat 29 Mar 08
perhaps if the students who are filling every other residential in the city and not paying council tax like the one shown on the BBC last night( who did not think it unreasonable to fill the area front and back of his home with food and mattresses to give both sustenance and succour to vermin)should be checked on by their colleges as these people are only temporary residents and are making life intolerable to the real residents who pay council tax
perhaps if the students who are filling every other residential in the city and not paying council tax like the one shown on the BBC last night( who did not think it unreasonable to fill the area front and back of his home with food and mattresses to give both sustenance and succour to vermin)should be checked on by their colleges as these people are only temporary residents and are making life intolerable to the real residents who pay council tax
Posted by: not a waster, Oxford on 9:28am Sat 29 Mar 08
Quite agree with conmancam. It was a stupid report and the BBC have had my comment on it. The students (who are supposed to be intelligent) can't be bothered to read the instructions on waste and recycling then complain of rats. In my street, that is full of families, including those with young and older, teenage children, do not seem to have this problem. There are no rats, urban foxes or anything like that. We are a community, we take pride in our living space and we enjoy it. The students should be fined - if I left an overflowing bin, I'd get a notice from the Council and eventually probably a fine. But I guess students would be exempt from that as they don't pay council tax?
And before someone starts having a go, I am a mother of two, I grew up in Cowley in the heart of the student population and houses in multiple occupation, have been a student and have some respect. It's quite simple really. If any of my neighbours behaved that way, I wouldn't have ANY hesitation in making my feelings known.
Quite agree with conmancam. It was a stupid report and the BBC have had my comment on it. The students (who are supposed to be intelligent) can't be bothered to read the instructions on waste and recycling then complain of rats. In my street, that is full of families, including those with young and older, teenage children, do not seem to have this problem. There are no rats, urban foxes or anything like that. We are a community, we take pride in our living space and we enjoy it. The students should be fined - if I left an overflowing bin, I'd get a notice from the Council and eventually probably a fine. But I guess students would be exempt from that as they don't pay council tax?
And before someone starts having a go, I am a mother of two, I grew up in Cowley in the heart of the student population and houses in multiple occupation, have been a student and have some respect. It's quite simple really. If any of my neighbours behaved that way, I wouldn't have ANY hesitation in making my feelings known.
Posted by: alan page on 10:46am Sat 29 Mar 08
Collect as many as you can and send them to SPEAK.
I'm sure they'll be grateful.
I would suggest breeding Supercats but we can't allow that because the amount of stress a rat feels when chased by a cat is unbearably cruel.It should be criminalised and all cats involved should be put down.
Collect as many as you can and send them to SPEAK.
I'm sure they'll be grateful.
I would suggest breeding Supercats but we can't allow that because the amount of stress a rat feels when chased by a cat is unbearably cruel.It should be criminalised and all cats involved should be put down.
Posted by: reincarnated, watching on 12:13pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]M Stoneman[/bold] wrote:
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.[/quote] religion stinks,hey the rats been here longer than man !fact!!man will distroy man!!!fact beliefs ballony blowing each other up what!!!crap dont see the rats trying to wipe each other out? were the intellegent ones ?
M Stoneman wrote:
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.
religion stinks,hey the rats been here longer than man !fact!!man will distroy man!!!fact beliefs ballony blowing each other up what!!!crap dont see the rats trying to wipe each other out? were the intellegent ones ?
Posted by: donna-anne salad on 12:23pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Is it a bird is it a plane, no
Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa...
da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs
Is it a bird is it a plane, no
Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa...
da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs
Posted by: m, Oxford on 12:30pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I've had encounters with these rats. They tend to roam Cornmarket, High, Broad, St Ebbe's and Queen St. They are of an agressive strain and have learned how to insult people in English when you don't give them change or buy a creased copy of last week's Big Issue.
I've had encounters with these rats. They tend to roam Cornmarket, High, Broad, St Ebbe's and Queen St. They are of an agressive strain and have learned how to insult people in English when you don't give them change or buy a creased copy of last week's Big Issue.
Posted by: m, Oxford on 12:30pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I've had encounters with these rats. They tend to roam Cornmarket, High, Broad, St Ebbe's and Queen St. They are of an agressive strain and have learned how to insult people in English when you don't give them change or buy a creased copy of last week's Big Issue.
I've had encounters with these rats. They tend to roam Cornmarket, High, Broad, St Ebbe's and Queen St. They are of an agressive strain and have learned how to insult people in English when you don't give them change or buy a creased copy of last week's Big Issue.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 12:48pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Those hawkers with their bid issues all believe in the third way,must do,how else could they believe you could furnish them with party donations if both your hands are full of hefty shopping bags.
Those hawkers with their bid issues all believe in the third way,must do,how else could they believe you could furnish them with party donations if both your hands are full of hefty shopping bags.
Posted by: ricky, thames pub on 12:49pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]donna-anne salad[/bold] wrote:
Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs[/quote] hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on !
donna-anne salad wrote:
Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs
hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on !
Posted by: ricky, oxford on 12:58pm Sat 29 Mar 08
WHOED BE A FOOTBALLERS WIFE1
WHOED BE A FOOTBALLERS WIFE1
Posted by: Roger, East Oxford on 12:58pm Sat 29 Mar 08
When Jean Fooks was told about the super rats on the programme, she said "That's horrible" and asked what she could do about it. Now,however, she seems to be setting herself up as an expert who knows more about rats than Professor Smith, advised by her ratcatchers. It doesn't strike me, watching my recording of the programme, that this is at all likely, and there was never the slightest dispute on the programme that Prof Smith might not know what he was talking about. Nor did Ms Fooks dispute (as she has before) that there are rats and that they are feeding on rubbish. Only Dr Kennett sticks steadfastly to the same story, and she is right. The rubbish must be taken away to avoid a plague-like situation evolving in modern Oxford under the watchful eyes of the LibDems and Greens.
When Jean Fooks was told about the super rats on the programme, she said "That's horrible" and asked what she could do about it. Now,however, she seems to be setting herself up as an expert who knows more about rats than Professor Smith, advised by her ratcatchers. It doesn't strike me, watching my recording of the programme, that this is at all likely, and there was never the slightest dispute on the programme that Prof Smith might not know what he was talking about. Nor did Ms Fooks dispute (as she has before) that there are rats and that they are feeding on rubbish. Only Dr Kennett sticks steadfastly to the same story, and she is right. The rubbish must be taken away to avoid a plague-like situation evolving in modern Oxford under the watchful eyes of the LibDems and Greens.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 1:03pm Sat 29 Mar 08
They still got viewers?
Posted by: cajunsr., tampa, florida on 1:21pm Sat 29 Mar 08
bonjour y'all et tout,
perhaps ms. fooks should take some courses from ratatouille, and learn what cuisine the lil' rodents do like if she is such an expert on rat extermination. :)
un bonne WE au vous au Oxford.
a bientot,
cajunsr.
bonjour y'all et tout,
perhaps ms. fooks should take some courses from ratatouille, and learn what cuisine the lil' rodents do like if she is such an expert on rat extermination. :)
un bonne WE au vous au Oxford.
a bientot,
cajunsr.
Posted by: Eric, Oxford on 2:20pm Sat 29 Mar 08
It seems Mrs. Fooks is an expert on all things apart from managing to keep our city clean and free from vermin. Who in their right mind would introduce a scheme where residents store their 2 weeks refuse in plastic bags? One council in a similar situation realised that this will encourage vermin and have therefore given such residents a weekly collection. The residents are still recycling and everyone is happy. Mrs. Fooks of course insists that everyone in Oxford has to be educated as we are not capable of recycling without fortnightly collections. For the amount of council tax we pay we deserve better than to be constantly lectured by our councillors. To all councillors I say get out city cleaned up!
It seems Mrs. Fooks is an expert on all things apart from managing to keep our city clean and free from vermin. Who in their right mind would introduce a scheme where residents store their 2 weeks refuse in plastic bags? One council in a similar situation realised that this will encourage vermin and have therefore given such residents a weekly collection. The residents are still recycling and everyone is happy. Mrs. Fooks of course insists that everyone in Oxford has to be educated as we are not capable of recycling without fortnightly collections. For the amount of council tax we pay we deserve better than to be constantly lectured by our councillors. To all councillors I say get out city cleaned up!
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 2:36pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Aha,cajunsr is among us.
It's an Omen,or possibly a Portend,that Oxford is soon to become the Bayou once more.
I am ready for some Dueling Banjo!
Aha,cajunsr is among us.
It's an Omen,or possibly a Portend,that Oxford is soon to become the Bayou once more.
I am ready for some Dueling Banjo!
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 3:03pm Sat 29 Mar 08
And maybe a little Ghost Riders in the Sky.
And maybe a little Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Posted by: Mike, Not BBLl on 4:26pm Sat 29 Mar 08
This is not news.
These 'super rats' have been living in BBL for years!
Sewer living sounds about right.
This is not news.
These 'super rats' have been living in BBL for years!
Sewer living sounds about right.
Posted by: Da,, weeeee on 5:02pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]reincarnated[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]M Stoneman[/bold] wrote:
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.[/quote] religion stinks,hey the rats been here longer than man !fact!!man will distroy man!!!fact beliefs ballony blowing each other up what!!!crap dont see the rats trying to wipe each other out? were the intellegent ones ?[/quote] Where yu gettin your gear man?
reincarnated wrote:
M Stoneman wrote:
The rise and fall of the rat populations is a fact that is older than the legend of the'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. but a good excuse to develope, relabel and spread even more poison on the world, with a profit.
religion stinks,hey the rats been here longer than man !fact!!man will distroy man!!!fact beliefs ballony blowing each other up what!!!crap dont see the rats trying to wipe each other out? were the intellegent ones ?
Where yu gettin your gear man?
Posted by: Fran Ratburger, East Oxford on 5:10pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Dr Frances Kennett ... said: "My drains have been relined at a cost of £1,400, but it has not made any difference".
Of course it hasn't. Why would it?
Dr Frances Kennett ... said: "My drains have been relined at a cost of £1,400, but it has not made any difference".
Of course it hasn't. Why would it?
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 5:27pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I often find myself wondering if Fooks has any experience.
Did she intern with the dustmen or was she employed as litterpicker or tidy tip sorter?
Did he work her way up through the garbage profession and allied trades or,as is more likely,parachuted into a cushy job with no responsibilities.
I ask this as during the days of the Tory scheme to kill off a generation those lowest on the Alphabetical list were offered YTS at the town rubbish dump whilst those A through to about F had a position with a reputable company that offered real prospects.
I often find myself wondering if Fooks has any experience.
Did she intern with the dustmen or was she employed as litterpicker or tidy tip sorter?
Did he work her way up through the garbage profession and allied trades or,as is more likely,parachuted into a cushy job with no responsibilities.
I ask this as during the days of the Tory scheme to kill off a generation those lowest on the Alphabetical list were offered YTS at the town rubbish dump whilst those A through to about F had a position with a reputable company that offered real prospects.
Posted by: Roger, East Oxford on 5:30pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I think the Council's expert idea was that the rats were living in the drains, and that the relining would stop them coming out. In fact, the truth seems to be that they were living on the rubbish any way, not in the drains, which is what most people suspected, but it was politically incorrect.
I think the Council's expert idea was that the rats were living in the drains, and that the relining would stop them coming out. In fact, the truth seems to be that they were living on the rubbish any way, not in the drains, which is what most people suspected, but it was politically incorrect.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 5:37pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Of course the New Labour scheme to kill off a generation or three is equally if not more diabolical.
Of course the New Labour scheme to kill off a generation or three is equally if not more diabolical.
Posted by: Mike, McDonalds Headington on 8:14pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]ricky[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]donna-anne salad[/bold] wrote: Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs[/quote] hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on ! [/quote] Hope you are not thinking of Roland Rat?
Of GMTV and TV fame!
ricky wrote:
donna-anne salad wrote: Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs
hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on !
Hope you are not thinking of Roland Rat?
Of GMTV and TV fame!
Posted by: ronald, closer than you think on 9:22pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Mike[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]ricky[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]donna-anne salad[/bold] wrote: Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs[/quote] hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on ! [/quote] Hope you are not thinking of Roland Rat? Of GMTV and TV fame![/quote] no im his great great great great grandfather!!
Mike wrote:
ricky wrote: donna-anne salad wrote: Is it a bird is it a plane, no Da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa... da-nn-aa.. da-nn-aa SUPER - RATs
hey ronalds upset ,spend money getin rid of us !!! carry on blowing each other up in the world !!got a bit of a taste for the poison! ronald will live on !
Hope you are not thinking of Roland Rat? Of GMTV and TV fame!
no im his great great great great grandfather!!
Posted by: Dilligaf, Hell's Door on 4:33am Sun 30 Mar 08
Those of you who voted them in, have only yourselves to blame
Those of you who voted them in, have only yourselves to blame
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