Rats at SV

– A student reported that he or she had seen a rat scurry through the main entrance at Eilert Sundts hus. We called the Technical Department in order to get rid of the problem, said Knut Marius Karlsen, head of the canteens at SiO.

The Technical Department immediately put out five rattraps with rat poison in different places in the SV canteen.

– Since then, no more rats have been seen and so we are 99.9 per cent sure that the rat is gone. The rattraps will be removed some time in the near future, said Karlsen.

When the rat was seen, the doors had been left open for a short while, and Karlsen stresses the importance of not leaving the doors open.

– It is important to keep the doors closed. Rats are smart animals, and unfortunately they are everywhere.

Marit Kolle, supervisor at the Oslo section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, confirms that rats are a great problem.

– There are rats all over Oslo, and it is unacceptable for them to be found in a place where food is served, said Kolle.

In 2005, Oslo Skadedyrkontroll, a firm which takes care of pest controls in Oslo, compleded a thorough examination of all the canteens at Blindern together with SiO, checking every nook and cranny. Karlsen said the investigation went well, and that there has not been any pest related incidents since.

– So there are no rats at any of the other places to eat either?

– No, it looks good so far. We haven’t registered any other cases.

Still, the SiO canteens are always on guard, and appreciate tips from the public if any more rodents are seen in the area.

– It is great that the students let us know if they see anything. We want everyone to visit our canteens, except fourlegged pests, Karlsen said.