Mario Bautista
A woman, who’s facing a rat issue in her garden, has pleaded for action after her two-year-old granddaughter was bitten. Katrina Griffiths from the Rumney area of Cardiff claims she has been experiencing rats coming into her garden for more than six years.
Katrina believes that the issue stems from the overgrowth in the land located behind her house, which belongs to Cardiff Council. Katrina explained that more than six years ago the fences surrounding the land were brought down, which has gradually seen the growth of weed and brambles spread.
Katrina claims that as a result of the overgrowth she and her neighbours have been dealing with rat issues in their gardens. She said she had taken her concerns to Cardiff Council but claims little has been done about the situation. In response the council has said they “acknowledge Ms Griffiths’ concerns” and that plans have been put in place to remove the overgrowth in the next coming weeks. For the latest Cardiff news sign up to our newsletter here.
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“This has been going on for a long time,” she said. “I’ve had the rat control people come to me on numerous occasions because I’ve had rats out in my back garden. They come out and put poison and everything down. This has been going on for a long, long time.”
But on Friday, September 27, Katrina said things took a turn for the worse when her two-year-old granddaughter, Emily, was bitten by a rat. She recalled: “On Friday my two-year-old and 10-year-old granddaughters were out playing in the garden. And all of a sudden there’s all this screaming. It seemed that Emily had knelt down thinking that this rat was a rabbit and she smoothed him. It latched onto her finger and bit her.”
She added: “My other granddaughter grabbed her hand and shook it to try and get this rat, which was attached, off her finger and hand. She did and it went on the floor. By the time my daughter and my son got to them the rat was dead.
“We think that someone, who is having the same problem as us in the area, might’ve put poison out. The rat was poisoned – it was weak and died. If it hadn’t been poisoned, I don’t think the rat would have stayed where it was for Emily to have leant down and smoothed it. They usually run away.”
The family then took Emily to the University Hospital of Wales for medical attention and the toddler is said to be recovering well from her injury. Katrina claims she got in contact with the council soon after the incident but claimed “it is the same old story”.
“They say that they don’t have the money but it’s their land,” she said. “I feel angry. It comes to something when you can’t let your children out in the garden playing because you think they are going to get attacked by a rat. Luckily Emily is doing okay in herself – her finger is still swollen. It’s the council’s land and they should be made to maintain it.”
In response a council spokesman said: “The council understands the distress this event has caused and is relieved to hear that Emily is recovering well. The land behind Ms Griffiths’ property is owned by Cardiff Council and while we strive to maintain council-owned lands resource and budget constraints sometimes limit our ability to address every issue.
“We acknowledge Ms Griffiths’ concerns about the overgrown shrubbery and have been in communication with her regarding this matter. Plans are in place to remove a portion of the overgrowth over coming weeks that would allow residents access to maintain their rear boundary fences. Rats are a common part of urban wildlife and can be found in various environments including gardens.
“Pest control services have attended the area and a baiting programme has commenced. The area will now be monitored until the issue has been resolved. We do understand the frustration and concern this situation has caused Ms. Griffiths and her family. While eliminating rats in the wild is clearly not possible we will endeavour to help where we can to hopefully improve the situation.”
