Edinburgh’s rat infestation: The city’s 17 council areas ranked in order of pest control callouts

Edinburgh is facing a plague of rats, with ongoing bin collection problems believed to be at the heart of the epidemic.

By The Newsroom
Monday, 11th March 2019, 7:34 pm
Updated Monday, 11th March 2019, 7:37 pm

A freedom of information request has revealed the council’s pest control team was called out 4,788 times last year - the equivalent of 13 times a day - to tackle vermin from rats to cockroaches. And one private pest controller in the city even claims rat callouts have surged by 20 per cent over this period - but the local authority disagrees. Here is a breakdown of the number of pest control requests made to the local authority in 2018 by ward area.

108 pest control requests received. Pictured is Oxgangs. Pic: Ian Georgeson
125 pest control requests made. Pictures is the Gyle Shopping Centre in Edinburgh. Pic: Lisa Ferguson.

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132 pest control requests made. Pictured is a welcome to Corstorphine sign. Pic: Ian Georgeson
137 pest control requests made. This is a densely populated area and is relatively low down on the list. Pictured is Leith Walk itself. Pic: Ian Rutherford
141 pest control requests were made to the local authority. Pictures is the Union Canal at Fountainbridge in December last year.
171 pest control requests were made. Pictures is an overflowing bin in the Meadows areas during the Edinburgh International Festival 2018. Pic: Scott Louden
230 pest control requests were made. Pictures is Inverleith Park. Pic: Ian Georgeson
283 pest control requests made. The suburban ward is about half way down the list. Pic: Google Maps
286 pest control requests were made. Pictured is the Shore in Leith. Pic: Neil Hanna
326 pest control requests were made in the city centre. Pictured is a general shot of Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean
329 pest control requests. Pictured are the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh. Pic: Brendan Howard/Shutterstock
375 pest control requests. Pictured is Liberton. Pic: Greg Macvean
379 pest control requests were made. Pictured is Portobello beach. Pic: Shutterstock
424 pest control requests were made. Pictured is Gorgie Road. Pic: Lisa Ferguson
551 pest control requests were made. Pictured is Granton Harbour earlier this year.