Local authority pest controllers made nearly 90,000 rodent-related visits across Wales during 2009/10, following nearly 42,000 calls for help.
That’s an average of well over a hundred calls every day of the year.
Figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives also show a similar number of call-outs took place during 2008/09.
Swansea tops the rat and mouse league, with over 31,000 visits during the last two years – following over 11,000 vermin-prompted calls.
That’s substantially more than Rhondda Cynon Taff, which was second, with 27,000 ‘visits and re-visits’ – following 8,000 calls.
The figures have been released following a Freedom of Information request by Assembly Member for Clwyd West Darren Millar (pictured).
He said: “Rats and mice are running rampant right across Wales.
“And with 31,000 visits to deal with rodent infestations in Swansea alone, local residents must be wondering whether the Pied Piper is living in the city.
“Welsh Conservatives have been warning for some time that local authorities have got to get a grip on issues like littering and fly-tipping, which can increase rodent populations if they go unchecked.
“Large rodent problems are unhealthy and costly, and we need to target the causes to get rid of them.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Jonathan Morgan AM, said: “We welcome the efforts that some councils have already put in to cut the number of rodent infestations, but this problem is clearly still not going away.
“We need national action to introduce tougher penalties for littering and fly-tipping and better enforcement to address these issues. Where rubbish is dumped and allowed to fester, rats and mice will always thrive.”
