Hitchhiking rats don't pose a risk to Alberta's famous rat-free status. Here's why

A black rat hitched a ride from B.C. to Alberta inside a '68 Chevy pickup before the rodent was discovered chewing its way through a Red Deer garage.

The homeowner attempted to trap the intruder in a milk crate before calling for backup.

The vermin  — discovered dead inside the garage Monday, most likely of natural causes, moments after a government rat inspector arrived — is one of the latest rats to invade the province. 

Dozens of them snuck in last year, despite a decades-long battle to keep the vermin out.

Alberta, the only Canadian province considered rat-free, has been defending its borders against rats for more than 70 years. Even pet rats are strictly forbidden.

Rats still scurry into the province but Alberta's rat control program is dedicated to making sure they never have the chance to thrive.

Last year, 31 rats were found in the province, an increase from 26 in 2020.

The increase doesn't mean more of the critters are in Alberta, said Karen Wickerson, a rat specialist who manages the provincial program.

"It fluctuates yearly," she said. "And the majority of them are hitchhikers in vehicles from B.C."

While the Norway rat is Alberta's traditional foe, black rats — also known as roof rats or ship rats — are increasingly common on the West Coast and occasionally make their way east, Wickerson said.

"[Black rats are] a bit smaller than a Norway rat," she said. "They have longer tails, and they're very good at climbing and surviving around water."

Wickerson attributes the increase in recorded rats last year to public awareness and a new reporting system.

The toll-free rat hotline (310-3276) is still taking calls but Albertans can also report rat sightings by sending an email to 310rats@gov.ab.ca.

The new email reporting system, launched in 2020, has made it easier to track potential rats, Wickerson said. The doldrums of COVID-19 shutdowns also played a part, she said.