[VIDÉO] Rats rub shoulders with ducks in Jarry Park in Montreal

Users of Jarry Park in Montreal are concerned about the growing presence of rats in this very popular green space favored by families in the neighborhood, which could be linked to ongoing work.

“Our family has been going to Jarry Park for 14 years, and this is the first time I’ve seen rats there,” says Christos Tsaganos.

The Montrealer says he first saw one in early August. Last Sunday, however, he was shocked to find himself in front of at least seven of these rodents on the edge of the pond, located southeast of the park.

He sent to the Journal the images he was able to capture. The rats can be seen alongside the ducks sniffing the ground, possibly looking for food.

Photo courtesy of CHRISTOS TSAGANOS

The Journal went to Jarry Park on Tuesday and saw a rat come out before quickly returning to the vegetation at the edge of the pond.

“It’s alarming”

“I’m worried. There are lots of families, including mine, who have picnics here. There are small children. It’s alarming,” Tsaganos laments.

The rats are said to have appeared in the park last month. Photo courtesy of CHRISTOS TSAGANOS

Suzanne Latino, who regularly visits the park, has also noticed the presence of this vermin.

“I’ve seen a few. They run. They cross the path. It becomes a problem if there are too many of them,” she said.

By email, the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough acknowledged that its teams had noticed the presence of “a few rats” since last month.

His spokesperson Jeanine Giffa says that an intervention strategy is currently being evaluated with an exterminator.

The district called in an exterminator to combat the presence of these rodents. Photo provided by CHRISTOS TSAGANOS

Unable to set traps

“Each situation where the presence of rats is observed requires appropriate intervention. As for Jarry Park, we cannot resort to setting traps, because it is a sensitive place where many animals live that could also get stuck there,” she explains.

Furthermore, the Borough suggests that the recent demolition of a building at the corner of Rue Faillon and Boulevard Saint-Laurent could have caused the arrival of rats and their dispersal in the area.

However, the high traffic in Jarry Park in the summer, combined with the lack of civic-mindedness of citizens who leave their waste lying around, could also be a cause, adds Ms. Giffa.

Mary Deros, municipal councillor for the Parc-Extension district, describes the situation as “unacceptable”.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this. When the park is full on weekends, more staff are needed to keep it clean,” she asks.

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