Rats have become increasingly prevalent in France, with a 35% rise in pest control requests from 2022 to 2023. Contributing factors include construction, illegal dumping, and pandemic-related urban abandonment. In response, some areas are employing innovative methods, such as using trained dogs and ferrets for detection and elimination. The goal is to manage the rat population by guiding them back to sewers, while also implementing preventive measures like secure trash bins and vegetation maintenance, with a month-long operation costing 19,000 euros.
Rats on the Rise in France
In recent years, rats have become a common sight in the streets of France, and even inside homes. The surge in the rat population has been evident, particularly through the increased demand for pest control services, which have reported a staggering 35% rise in interventions from 2022 to 2023. Several factors contribute to this alarming trend, including construction activities that displace rats from their sewer habitats, the rise in illegal dumping, and the lockdowns that provided these rodents with ample opportunity to thrive in deserted urban areas.
Innovative Methods to Combat Rat Infestations
As a result of this growing infestation, some residential areas are becoming overrun with these pests. Residents are faced with numerous challenges, from holes in green spaces to damaged wires and unpleasant odors. In response to concerns raised by tenants in a social housing complex near Paris, the property management has engaged pest control experts. Notably, they have opted for a unique approach that doesn’t involve traditional traps or poisons. Instead, they utilize two specially trained dogs: Thor, a Dutch shepherd, and Puntu, a Brittany spaniel, both renowned for their exceptional sense of smell.
These canines are trained to detect and eliminate rats efficiently. With a single bite, they can instantly neutralize a rodent, in contrast to poison, which can cause prolonged suffering. The dogs conduct their hunt around the building, including in the basement, and have been known to extract around forty rats from a single dumpster in one day.
Guillaume, one of the pest controllers, highlights the intelligence of rats, noting their ability to navigate mazes and adapt their behavior based on human activity. He emphasizes that rats can quickly learn the schedules of trash collection, allowing them to thrive in urban environments.
In addition to their canine companions, the pest control team employs ferrets and uses a traditional hunting technique called ferreting. This method, which dates back to Roman times, leverages the natural hunting instincts of ferrets, which are adept at navigating small spaces. Ferrets are particularly useful in areas inaccessible to dogs, such as tunnels leading to the building’s technical room. Anti-leak nets are strategically placed to trap the rats as they emerge, slowing them down for the dogs to handle.
The ultimate goal of this comprehensive pest control strategy is not to eradicate the rats entirely, but to manage their population effectively. By guiding them back into the sewers, where they can feed on organic waste, the team hopes to reduce their presence above ground. Guillaume also advises implementing measures such as lever trash bins to prevent rats from accessing garbage and trimming back bushes that provide cover for them. The pest control operation is set to last a month, with an investment of 19,000 euros to restore peace to the community.