Jun 17, 2011, 13:50 PM by User Not Found

Sniffer dog deployed in Queensland to combat rats

ox terriers Mya and Pepper, pictured with handlers Charlie Cinconze and Nicholas Snabaitis, are part of the rat detection squad in Goodna. Picture: Annette Dew

By Anna Chisholm

RATS chewing through phone cables are causing chaos in abandoned flood-hit homes at Goodna, southwest of Brisbane, and as far as Birdsville in west Queensland.

Diamantina Mayor Robbie Dare said the rodents wreaked havoc, chewing cables and causing major communication problems.

"Telstra have technicians out there replacing the cables it's affected internet, all communications and tourism," he said.

"Not many tourists carry cash any more they go to pay with a card and the terminals don't work because communications are down."

Cr Dare said the problem is too big for any local government to bait.

"We catch about 60 a night at the back of the roadhouse at Bedourie; it's been going on since before Christmas and it doesn't seem like it will let up," he said.

"They're breeding like wildfire and spreading further out north and further east."

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/big-rat-problem-has-gone-to-the-dogs/story-e6frfkvr-1226076734126#ixzz1PYLiBrg8