Hesse: Exterminator: Increased rat sightings

Usually they are mostly in the sewage system, but driven by hunger they sometimes crawl through the toilet.

Hesse: Exterminator: Increased rat sightings

Usually they are mostly in the sewage system, but driven by hunger they sometimes crawl through the toilet. Exterminators assume increased rat sightings. Larger municipalities have not yet noticed this.

Darmstadt (dpa / lhe) - They are not really cute animals and spread diseases. According to the association of exterminators, there have been more rat sightings in Hesse in the recent past. "We have more to do," said the chairman of the Pest Control Association in Hesse, Björn Kleinlogel, at the request of the German Press Agency. This is not due to the season. The background is rather an EU regulation that was tightened years ago and later also implemented in national law. Whereas in the past the bait could simply be hung in the sewage system, today it would have to be checked and residue removed later so that it does not end up in the water.

"The requirements mean that the costs for the communities have tripled to fivefold," said Kleinlogel. A general and regular control also becomes a question of costs. "The new regulation makes perfect sense." The poison from the toxic bait can also accumulate in other animals, for example, through the water cycle. In rats, the rodenticides inhibit blood clotting and cause the animals to bleed to death internally a few days later.

"The rats are doing well with us too," said Kleinlogel. However, they would only walk around above ground when the population is already larger and the food in the canal is running out. But then they could also make it into people's homes, for example through the toilet. "It happens regularly."

Recently, the city of Limburg carried out a rat control campaign because of the "generally increasing rat population". You can't count the animals, but that was the impression of the feedback, said spokesman Johannes Laubach. In the first half of June, action was taken against the animals in the entire sewer network and in affected areas on the banks of the Lahn. Also this year there should be two rat fights.

There have also been increased sightings of rats this year in the southern Hessian town of Weiterstadt. "This is also a corona problem," said Mayor Ralf Möller (SPD). People could not have gone to the restaurants and then eaten pizza or doner kebabs outside. The leftovers were then usually left lying around and attracted rats. The city usually takes action against the animals three times a year. But after three months you notice that the rats are coming out again. "We always have a problem with it. At the moment everything is fine."

Larger cities such as Frankfurt, Kassel, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt or Fulda currently see no increased occurrence of rats, according to a survey. "Basically, this cannot be determined, but due to increased construction activity in the city area, there are increased sightings and thus increased reports of rats," says Wiesbaden. In Kassel, too, no one wants to talk about more rodents. "In Kassel - as in any urban area where many people live closely together - there are also many rodents." And in Darmstadt, too, it is said: "There are always rats. An increased occurrence in green spaces this year has not been ascertained so far." The cities are only responsible for fighting in public areas, the owners are responsible for private properties.

The municipalities are unanimously calling on their citizens not to carelessly dispose of rubbish, especially leftover food, or simply leave it lying around in public places. "Basically, rats usually live in the sewage system, but are always visible to humans when the food supply lures them up to the surface of the earth. Therefore: the fewer leftovers, garbage and other impurities lying around, the fewer rats are interested in these areas", warned the city of Fulda.

According to the Federal Environment Agency, rats can transmit more than 100 different diseases to humans. They are also carriers of animal diseases. According to Kleinlogel, it is not possible to say how many of the rodents live in the city sewers. "Estimates are reading tea leaves."