Rats are a problem in many areas of the world. New York City is well known for their rat problems. Venture outdoors in the late evening hours and you are sure to find rats roaming the streets looking for tidbits of food or foraging in bags of trash or uncovered garbage cans and dumpsters. Rats are a well-known occurrence in the NYC subway system as they have taken a liking to living underground. Able to avoid the oncoming trains with ease and nosh on dropped goodies left behind by humans, the subway system is now a rat haven. Add in the fact that there are known rooms that are dedicated to trash storage in subways stations throughout New York, and there is now a variable all-night rat buffet.
Johannesburg, South Africa may seem like a world away, but their residents and government officials face the same rat problems that exist in other small and large cities throughout the United States. Digital Spy reported on November 5, 2012 that a local charity in Johannesburg is pitching in to help knock down the rat populations with in the city. Reports are that the charity “Lifeline” teamed up with a cell phone company whereas they are offering residents in the city of Alexandra who catch 60 rats a free cell phone. Free traps are being offered to catch the live prey. Some people are finding that catching the rats are so easy that they are earning phones for each member of their family.
Animal rights groups have jumped on the band-wagon about the unfairness of catching these rats. But one must remember that rats are disease transmitting vermin that should not be living among humans. This charity promotion seems like a great idea, but not one likely that will be used in the lawsuit happy United States!