Fighting the ‘Rat Plague’ of Chios. 19th October 2007
Mike Taylor
World Museum Liverpool
About seven years ago the rat population on Chios, particularly in the most densely populated areas of The Kampos and Chios Town occupied by 75% of the population, reached totally unacceptable levels.
The Ministry of Agriculture officially designated these areas as being subject to a ‘Rat Plague’. They directed that a concerted, intense, scientifically based campaign be mounted to eradicate this problem, in concert with Chios politicians. This campaign was lead at the highest political level by the Prefect of Chios at that time, and subsequently by successive Prefects, supported by the Mayors of the relevant municipalities. In some municipalities the Mayors are currently responsible for distributing the poison to users. This campaign has the support of all political parties.
The costs of all the rat poisons used in the campaign have been and continue to be funded by the Prefecture. Initially a review was undertaken of all the available methods of tackling the problem. Criteria and actions used in selecting the chosen treatment included:-
1. Review of procedures for the safe use of the product.
2. Risks of ‘collateral damage’ and procedures and processes required to avoid them.
3. Review of standards and methods for training users in the safe use of the poison.
4. Monitoring and control of dispensing of poisons to trained operatives.
5. Effectiveness of the treatments.
As a result of the review of available methods, the product STORM produced by BASF the largest European agrochemical company with annual turnover in excess of 3 Billion Euros, was selected for use in the Chios campaign.
Before any poisons were distributed, other than under the then existing levels of use by professional users in Chios, a series of educational seminars were undertaken. These were joint events supported by BASF, the Ministry of Agriculture and politicians.
The Ministry of Agriculture requested that all land and property owners, within the designated ‘Rat Plague’ areas, including those of premises not used for professional agricultural or horticultural purposes, would make arrangements for either themselves or nominees to undertake the application of the selected poison on their properties. All such users of the poison were to attend the educational seminars prior to being issued with the poison. These seminars were subsequently held in community centres throughout the designated ‘Rat Plague’ areas.
Subject Subject matter covered in these seminars included:-
1. The Biology of Rats.
Their lifestyles, rates of breeding, habitat preferences, food sources, breeding site selection. The identification of nests, rat-runs and detecting signs of presence.
2. Characteristics of STORM.
Active ingredients, product formulation, safe application of the poison. Use of implements not bare hands for applying the poison. Duty of care issues for users.
3. How the Poison affects rats.
Where rats go when they have taken the poison, what happens to the poison remaining in the rat bodies after death. The likelihood of other animals eating the dead bodies and what happens to them if they do.
The result of this campaign, still ongoing after seven years, is that there has been a very considerable reduction in the rat populations in the campaign areas. Poison is still being used in order to ensure that a further explosion in the rat population is avoided.
There have been no reported cases of accidental poisoning of non target animals due to collateral damage or the careless disposition of poison.
Regular observers of Chios wildlife, which I myself have been studying intensively since 1992, have observed no deterioration in animal species distribution or abundance which could be attributable to the tackling of the ‘Rat Plague’. Indeed Barn Owls are still regularly seen and breed in the Kampos area.
A small private mixed estate in the centre of Chios Town, containing ornamental gardens, orchards, vegetable gardens, a collection of Game birds and domestic poultry used STORM to control rats as part of the campaign. Prior to the use of STORM, the resident colony of Leopard Snakes, Elaphe situla, was doing its best to control the rats and mice which fed on spilt grain. After the placing of the rat poison the rats were virtually eliminated. The only adverse effect was that there was a population explosion of edible snails which consequently caused much damage in the vegetable garden, the rats had hitherto used the snails as a food thus keeping them under control. Did this snail plague constitute ‘collateral damage’ caused by the rat poison? However in succeeding winters the abundance of snails caused considerably increased numbers of Song Thrushes to take up residence as snails are one of their favourite foods. Their attentions have resulted in very significantly reduced numbers of snails on the estate with a new natural balance now being achieved by thrushes instead of rats. Since the rats were eradicated on the estate the occasional Beech Martens which used to be encountered have not been seen recently, however the Leopard Snakes are still in residence.
Having reviewed the effects of the Chios ‘Rat Plague’ and the campaign to tackle the problem, my conclusions are that the campaign was very well managed throughout all phases:- investigation of solutions, determination of action plan and controlled execution. All parties are to be congratulated on a ‘model’ example of how problems of this nature should be addressed. Resulting from this campaign there is now a widespread and common understanding within the Chios population of the safe and correct method of using the product STORM.
The Union of Agricultural Co-operatives on Chios have confirmed that, in accordance with EU rulings, from 2008 all non-certified poisons will be prohibited in Greece. Consequently all stocks of the tiny black pellets (an extremely lethal poison used underground to exterminate ‘worms’) and sunflower seeds impregnated with poison will be withdrawn in Chios. STORM, which is certified, will continue to be used for the foreseeable future, as it has been proved to be so safe and effective.
