Alberta’s Famous Rat Patrol Called Into Action

A dead rat discovered in central Alberta has caught the attention of provincial officials — and serves as a reminder of just how seriously Alberta protects its famous “rat-free” status.

The Town of Bowden, about 45 kilometres south of Red Deer, reported on September 24 that a dead rat had been found in the area. Alberta’s Rat Control Program — often simply called the Rat Patrol — was brought in to investigate and dispose of the animal.

The discovery came only days after a video circulated online showing what appeared to be a live rat in southeast Calgary. Provincial officials had been notified about that sighting as well, although the animal in the Calgary video had not been publicly confirmed as a rat and there is no evidence connecting the two incidents.

Is Alberta Still Rat-Free?

Yes.

Being “rat-free” doesn’t mean an individual rat never enters Alberta. It means the province has no established breeding population of invasive rats.

Occasional rats can arrive in trucks, cars, trailers and shipments from outside the province. When one is discovered, officials move quickly to determine where it came from and whether other rats may be nearby.

That rapid response is one of the reasons Alberta has maintained its unusual status for more than 70 years.

A Program Dating Back to 1950

Alberta began its organized rat-control effort in 1950 after Norway rats reached the province's eastern border from Saskatchewan.

A special Rat Control Zone was established along the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary, stretching approximately 600 kilometres from near Cold Lake to the Montana border. Inspectors, municipalities, farmers and provincial officials have worked together ever since to prevent rats from establishing permanent colonies.

The program has been remarkably successful. Individual rats and small infestations are occasionally discovered, but they are investigated and eradicated before they can become established.

Think You’ve Seen a Rat?

Most reported “rats” in Alberta turn out to be other animals, including muskrats, mice and native woodrats. Still, officials would rather investigate a false alarm than miss the real thing.

If you believe you've spotted a rat, safely take a photograph if possible and record the exact location. Signs such as unusual droppings, burrows or gnaw marks can also be reported.

Albertans can contact the provincial Rat Control Program at 310-FARM (3276) or rats@gov.ab.ca.

For now, officials are investigating the Bowden discovery and looking for any evidence that additional rats are present.

And somewhere in Alberta, the Rat Patrol remains on guard.