How Alberta Eradicated Rats

Alberta, Canada has remained rat-free for over 70 years—the largest rat-free area on Earth after Antarctica—by acting quickly to seal its eastern border before Norway rats could establish themselves in the 1950s. Unlike other rat-free regions that are small, uninhabited islands, Alberta is a province of nearly five million people that must maintain continuous vigilance against new rat incursions from neighboring areas. The province's success demonstrates how early intervention can prevent permanent infestation, though it requires ongoing effort to sustain.