The day a defrosting rat made it into court 🐀

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EHO Story 📩

You’d think after a while, nothing in environmental health would surprise you. But then one day, a fellow Environmental Health Officer (EHO) shares this story with you. It’s one of those ridiculous moments that makes you laugh first… and think second.

Yes, really.

They were investigating a site with ongoing rat issues. One particularly determined rodent had tried to chew through a wall, and died there in the process. Lovely!

So, the EHO retrieved the rat (as evidence), bagged it up, popped it in the freezer, and brought it to court to, as they put it “to drive the point home”.

Now, here’s where it gets… memorable.

It was winter. The courts were packed. The EHO was left waiting for hours, with the evidence bag placed beside a warm radiator.

By the time lunch rolled around, the rat had started to defrost.

And yes (still sealed in the evidence bag) they took it to McDonald’s, ate their nuggets with the slowly leaking rat bag on the seat next to them, then casually carried it back into court.

It didn’t exactly strengthen the legal argument… but it certainly made it unforgettable.

🐀 Food Safety Tip: Stop the pests before it gets this far

You (hopefully) won’t ever end up in court with a thawing rat, but this story is a reminder of what can happen when early warning signs are missed.

✔️ Don’t give pests a reason to stick around: clean as you go, store food properly, and keep bins emptied (especially overnight).
✔️ Spot the early signs: droppings, gnawed food, strange smells, smear marks. Keep a look out!
✔️ And if you spot a problem: deal with it immediately using a reputable pest control contractor!

The Serious Lesson

Pest control isn’t just the job of a contractor, it’s everyone’s responsibility.

🧠 If your team can’t spot the signs or aren’t clear on what to do, pests will slip through the cracks. Literally!!

Ever had a pest control situation that got… memorable?

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