By ANNE BESTON
Rats are thriving in some of Auckland's more exclusive suburbs and everyone has a different theory as to why.
A warm and relatively dry summer, plenty of back-garden fruit on lawns and even construction on the Auckland waterfront are being touted as reasons for an increase in rodent
numbers in Parnell, Epsom and Remuera.
Rats are also being blamed for a poor kokako breeding season in the Hunua Ranges. No young were produced this year, in comparison with four last season and two the year before.
Pest control firms said they were preparing for a hectic winter as the high number of rats abandoned summer outdoor homes and made the annual trek indoors.
"Conditions this summer have been perfect for them. We're preparing for a very busy winter," said Dale Parnell, manager of Procare pest control.
Rats tended to favour older, more established suburbs, he said.
In one recent case in Epsom, a rat had taken a liking to the bathroom soap.
"They tend to get a bit cheeky after a while - the woman was very upset. But the fact they are already coming inside would indicate we're in for a bad year," said Mr Parnell.
Mark Cross, of Rentokill, blamed excavation work along the waterfront for the number of calls the company was getting from Parnell residents.
"With major excavations, the building of apartments and things like that, you get surrounding suburbs invaded. The digging seems to upset the rats' homes."
The Hunua kokako population, which has been closely managed by the Auckland Regional Council and Department of Conservation since 1994, is the last natural-breeding population of the birds left in the Auckland region and is susceptible to any increase in predator numbers.
"A bad season is something you have to live with," said ARC scientist Tim Lovegrove.
Poison was laid after footprints in special tunnels showed a big rise in rat numbers, but the bait was not as effective as it had been in the past.
David Frith, of the Auckland City Council's environmental effects department, said rats were vigorous foragers, but there were some simple things that people could do to prevent them moving in.
"Don't leave potential sources of food around outside, such as food for pets, and clear up fruit from backyard trees."
