A Palmerston resident wants Minto council to seek public input on a plan to start a rodent farm on a property south of Harriston.
Clifford resident Greg Andrews plans to operate the rodent farm, as well as a store selling pets and pet supplies, on a property on Wellington Road 109.
The property was formerly the site of the Harriston Pork Marketing Co-operative sales barn.
In September, council approved a zoning amendment to allow the raising of livestock on the property.
However, during a public question period at the Nov. 5 Minto council meeting, Andy Tarc told council a number of other citizens asked him to express concerns.
“A few people have asked me if I would mention some opposition to the idea of facility to breed 10,000 rats a week,” said Tarc.
He pointed out even a one per cent escape rate would mean 100 rats per week escaping into the community.
“If these rats breed with the regular town rats you’re going to get a huge amount of rats,” said Tarc.
He suggested council survey residents by circulating a flyer or a poll on the town’s website.
“It should be a clear question. Do you want a half a million per year rat-breeding production facility in the Town of Minto, yes or no?” Tarc stated.
Tarc said a half-million rodents would be enough to feed 10,000 boa constrictors a year.
“Minto has bylaws to stop the keeping of snakes in the Town of Minto, but it’s okay with them if it’s in someone else’s backyard,” said Tarc.
He noted Andrews has been a strawberry farmer in the past and suggested council “give [Andrews] a grant of $3,000 and tell him to go raise strawberries.”
Mayor George Bridge pointed out questions were asked by council about the same issues Tarc was raising when the zoning amendment was discussed at the Sept. 17 meeting.
“Questions were asked when we had people here to ask, and I think the council felt … those questions were answered on the escapee situation,” said Bridge.
Councillor Dave Turton said council members accept a lot of phone calls each week from “disgruntled taxpayers,” but he pointed out “I’ve never had one on this rat issue.”
Turton asked treasurer Gordon Duff if any taxpayers had registered complaints with the municipal office, either directly or through voice messages.
“I’m not aware of any,” said Duff.
Turton suggested the rodent farm operator would be self-motivated to prevent escapes.
“That’s their profit. It’s not an open concept in these rat barns. It’s like chickens. How many chickens get out? How many rabbits?”
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk, a veterinarian by trade, told Tarc he doubts escaped lab rats breeding with wild rats would become a problem.
“I don’t pretend to be an expert in rats, but I think that the wild rat and lab rat are probably almost two different species. My guess is that if a wild rat was exposed to a lab rat that it would probably eat it, rather than breed [with] it,” Fisk stated.
“If the rats do escape would you people be prepared to call in the Pied Piper of Hamelin town?” quipped Tarc.
“Do you have his number?” Fisk responded.
