Rats revolt mum at public pool

Madeline Hernon with children Annabel, 10, and Charles, 7. Photo / Doug Sherring

Bathers at a popular pool complex were shocked to see a pack of rats scavenging for scraps among poolside picnickers.

One woman scrambled on to a picnic table as the rodents foraged on a grassy area at the Parnell Baths on waterfront Tamaki Drive near central Auckland.

Madeline Hernon was enjoying a fish and chip supper when the vermin scuttled out from under a fence and began feasting on scraps.

"It was disgusting and revolting," she said.

"We had a baby of 3 months with us, and we didn't want to leave the baby in the pram. They came up so close around the table.

"They were scampering around all the grass area. They're almost tame, and quite big rats."

The complex has a 60m saltwater pool, children's play pools and spas, a cafe and conference area.

The Auckland City Council-owned facility is run by Community Leisure Management, which runs 16 pools around the country.

Parnell Baths manager James Robertson said he wasn't allowed to comment and CLM general manager Craig Carter did not return calls.

Council recreation services manager Jane Stone said bait stations had been put around the edge of the complex and they would look at new measures to keep vermin under control in the future.

Council parks services manager Mark Bowater said trapping and baiting programmes were used to manage other problem areas, such as parts of Auckland Domain.

Pest experts from the Auckland Regional Council said rats were found just about anywhere in the city where there was a source of food. Aside from the rare native rat kiore, two species are common - the mouse-like ship rat, and larger Norway rat.

Also known as the sewer rat, brown Norway rats like the water and are believed to be able to swim up to 1km.

They can carry diseases including salmonella and leptospirosis.

Rentokil technical manager Jon Thompson said Norway rats were the likely culprits at the swimming pool.

"When you have a public area that has food sources, you're always going to get them," he said.

"Sometimes it's really hard to know they're there until they become really cheeky and come out during the day. The rule is: If you see one rat, don't ignore it because there's always going to be more."