The Town of Drumheller has issued a press release stating that a rodent discovered by a Drumheller resident is a roof rat, and not a Norway Rat.
    On Saturday morning a Drumheller resident trapped the gray rat, measuring about 14 inches from tip to tail.
 He attempted to get a hold of Fish and Wildlife. A neighbour who is in bylaw enforcement took possession of the animal.
The Town issued a press release, stating the rat it investigated was a roof rat.
    “After an investigation, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed the rodent is a roof rat. Roof rats are not native to the prairies and do not like cold weather. This species of rat is found more commonly in the warm, wet areas of the East and West Coasts of Canada. Officials believe the rat entered Alberta on a vehicle, which traveled from an area common to Roof Rats. These rats are usually found alone and rarely in pairs,” It states.
     Further: “The Town of Drumheller Protective Services Department will be proactive to ensure this is an isolated case in Drumheller. While more rat traps will be set up in the area of the sighting, the Town asks residents to be vigilant while traveling. If residents have traveled to a warmer climate in a vehicle and have questions or concerns about roof rats please call Protective Services Director Greg Peters at 403-823-1363 or email gpeters@dinosaurvalley.com.”

    Municipal Affairs Communications Team Lead Kathy Kiel has responded to Mayor Terry Yemen’s request to find out why he was on hold after calling 9-1-1.  
    Yemen lost his wallet on November 28 and was on the phone with the credit card company when he found out that someone was currently using his credit card at a business here in Drumheller.
     Yemen tried calling the local 24-hour RCMP dispatch, however there was no answer.  Yemen then called  9-1-1  so  the  RCMP could   catch the suspected thief before he left the business.  
    Municipal Affairs, Communications Team Leader Kathy Kiel, investigated further and responded, “The 9-1-1 call placed on November 28, 2015 was received by the Red Deer 9-1-1 call centre at 3:04 PM.  The call was answered by staff at The City of Red Deer’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Centre in eight seconds and was transferred to the RCMP Southern Alberta Operational Communication Centre within 11 seconds, from the time it was answered.”
   RCMP K Division Communications RCMP Corporal Franks confirmed that the call was placed on hold. Yemen received verification from the same department stating that it was actually only 3 minutes 11 seconds. “If this had been a life or death emergency, the wait time was too long,” said Yemen.
    RCMP K Division Corporal Franks explained that the dispatchers were busy handling incoming calls  on an emergency that several dispatchers could have been involved with.
    Yemen is still not satisfied with the results and believes that there are staffing issues involved.  Yemen stated,  “I have also escalated this issue with Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman and MP Kevin Sorenson.”
    Kiel further said, “Many 9-1-1 calls in Alberta are non-emergency calls.  In situations that are not emergencies, Albertans are encouraged to call the appropriate non-emergency numbers to ensure 9-1-1 staff can process calls that are truly sensitive and require immediate support from police, fire and ambulance services.”