Calgary on rodent hunt after rat sighting

Animal control and bylaw officers are on a rat hunt after a homeowner found a dead rodent in a southeast neighbourhood.

Provincial Rat and Pest Specialist Phil Merrill says the rat was found in the neighbourhood of New Brighton.

"If it is a roof rat and that's what I really think it is, it's likely to have hitchhiked in on some transportation means and found it's way to this chap's place," he said.

Alberta has claimed rat-free status since the 1950s.

But the rodents do occasionally make an appearance in the province.

Exterminators worked for weeks in 2012 after aninfestation of dozens of rats was foundin a Medicine Hat landfill.

Merrill says this latest find is most likely a case of a single, well-travelled rat.

"It's not uncommon that we would get a single rat within the province somewhere that jumped off a truck or came in on a recreational vehicle or came on a train or whatever," he said.

Merrill says inspectors will now try determine if any other rats are roaming in the area.

City officials are encouraging people to call 3-1-1 if they see any rats.