Weil am Rhein urges residents to cut food sources for rats

Rat sightings have increased in Weil am Rhein, a German city near Basel, prompting officials to remind residents to dispose of rubbish and food waste properly, SRF reports.

The city has recorded 127 rats in its sewer monitoring system during the second week of September, though some may have been counted more than once. The system, launched in 2018, uses more than 100 bait boxes fitted with sensors to detect rats entering from the sewers.

Officials say the hot, dry summer left food scraps in the sewers for longer while reducing shelter for rats in bushes. City department head Ellen Nonnenmacher said the city had received more reports of rats in recent months, but did not describe the situation as an infestation.

The city plans to send households a leaflet with advice, including keeping rubbish bins and compost heaps securely closed, putting out rubbish bags only on collection day and clearing fallen bird feed daily. Residents are also being urged not to flush food scraps down toilets and to avoid leaving food behind when eating outdoors.

Basel has also seen more rats in recent months, but Wiebke Dibbern of the city’s health department said this was normal in summer and there were no particular concerns. She said food availability was the main factor affecting rat numbers, with litter, compost and feeding pigeons among the potential food sources. Pigeon feeding is prohibited in both Basel and Weil am Rhein.

In Germany, municipalities and operators of wastewater systems are legally required to control rats, while property owners are responsible for private land. The city of Weil am Rhein estimates that Germany has between 300 million and 350 million rats.

Rats can transmit diseases and damage buildings and infrastructure. Dibbern said people could stay relatively safe by keeping their distance and avoiding contact with rat urine and droppings.