Rat plague in Kiel: Appeal to citizens - this is what the solution looks like!

Rat plague in Kiel: Appeal to citizens - this is what the solution looks like!

in Kiel, especially in the districts of Gaarden and Elmschenhagen, increased rat cases the residents on alert. In 2022, the Kiel waste management company (ABK) and the regulatory office documented over 300 rat cases, with about half of the Gaarden district. Mayor Ulf Kämpfer (SPD) urged the citizens not to offer the rodents of no food and referred to the reconnaissance work that had already been done. Despite the introduction of regulatory funds in the event of violations of waste disposal and the revision of the rat statute, the despair of many residents over the rat problem remains great. KN online have.

A look at the measures in other cities shows that the garbage problem is often at the center of the rat control. In Freiburg, for example, there are often complaints that are mainly due to incorrectly disposed garbage. Here the city has set up a central specialist group that discusses every month and ensures that the garbage collection points are checked. Additional containers and the pruning of plants around the collection points should also contribute to solving the problem. A pilot project for video surveillance of garbage collection points shows how innovative the approaches are.

innovative solutions

in Salzgitter, the garbage situation is considered the main problem for rat infestation. The health department conducts targeted controls in affected buildings and maintains the exchange with housing cooperatives and owners to take more efficient. In addition, all rat sightings are reported centrally to the health department in order to be able to act quickly.

A special highlight is Eningen under Achalm, which relies on intelligent, environmentally friendly bait boxes. These boxes count the number of rats and provide valuable data for targeted use. In this way, measures can be precisely adapted. The conclusion from these examples shows that there is no simple miracle cure for rat infestation. Rather, a city like Kiel needs a concept that combines different solutions and performs perseverance.

The role of food sources

The Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that cities have been relying on rat poison for decades, but the rat population often remains stable or even increases. Factors such as global warming, urbanization and a growing city population favor the problem. The Karma campaign, which supports municipalities, pursues the goal of making cities unattractive for rats. A central point is the reduction in food supply for animals in parks, in playgrounds and in the sewage system. Improved handling of garbage and food is therefore essential. An effective contribution can be made by eliminating wild garbage deposits and closing access to buildings. Environmental Federal Agency reports that the Mål "No Food, No Rats!" It is crucial for sustainable rat management.

In addition, experts warn of the dangers that rats and the widespread poison baits. Each pair of rat can testify up to 1,200 offspring in a year. In Germany there are estimated 350 million rats that not only damage landscapes, but can also transmit diseases such as salmonella and tuberculosis. In order to protect the environment and health of the citizens, legal regulations are necessary to prevent the contact of poison baits with the water cycle. Community base reports that innovative solutions such as the bait protection box toxprotect are already used in several cities to control the rat population.