Pest Control Efforts Increased Despite Decrease in Rat Reports

Pest control companies in Denmark are working hard to set traps, even though the number of reported rat sightings has decreased over the past year. The combination of wet weather and extreme heat has driven rats to search for new shelter, resulting in increased workload for pest control agencies.

According to Claus Schultz, the technical director at Rentokil, both the wet spring and heavy rainfall during July have forced rats to come out of the sewers. Flooding in fields and wooded areas has caused panic among the rodents, prompting them to seek out drier locations. Several companies, including Kiltin and Nomus A/S, have also reported increased activity in their operations. Their work involves locating rat burrows, installing sewer blockers, and setting traps with poison. In some areas, dogs are also employed to capture the pests, particularly in Næstved, a city in Denmark.

Gentofte Municipality, a suburb of Copenhagen, has also seen an uptick in reports during the month of July compared to the same period last year. Rats are known carriers of serious diseases, making it mandatory for residents to promptly report any rat sightings to their local municipality.

Claus Schultz urges homeowners to take preventive measures against rat infestations, stating, “In the upcoming period, there will be plenty of fallen fruit. Be sure to clear it away.”

On a national level, the number of rat reports has declined in recent years, and this trend continues into 2024, according to statistics from the Ministry of the Environment (Miljøministeriet). In the first six months of the year, there have been fewer reports compared to the same period last year. The timing for when the July statistics will be published remains uncertain.