Red alarm level: Rat plague in Paunsdorf grabs it!

Red alarm level: Rat plague in Paunsdorf grabs it!

Paunsdorf, Leipzig, Deutschland - in Paunsdorf, a quarter in Saxony, has made headlines for 15 years now and ensures increasing concern among residents. According to mdr reports that the situation has intensified over the years. The uninvited guests are particularly common in car engines, which gave a resident four rats under the hood. This ensures that many residents regularly have to check their vehicles for rat infestation.

The Southeast District Advisory Board raises the alarm and reported on the numerous civil complaints at a city council meeting. Since January 2024, at least ten reports have been made to urban offices, but many citizens are disappointed because they are often sent from office to office without much happening. "My way home is very scary in the evening," a resident describes her experiences. A look at the Goldsternstrasse shows overcrowded waste containers and garbage bags that have not been disposed of, while deep holes in the green area indicate rat activities.

The plague of rat as an urban problem

With the increase in rat populations in cities worldwide, contact with many similar problems is on the agenda. According to a report by ZDF , the increase can be observed particularly in large cities such as New York or Amsterdam. High population and associated food waste are the main reason for the growth of the rat populations. An urban heat is also active for longer, which also exacerbates the problem.

In New York, for example, more rats have been spotted more often in the cold months than in previous years. The causes are diverse: rats not only cause damage to the urban infrastructure, they can also contaminate food and transmit diseases such as leptospirosis. In order to meet these challenges, researchers recommend integrated pest management strategies that aim at a more sustainable approach.

joint efforts for solution

The city cleaning employees in Paunsdorf are aware that the rat fighting is difficult, since other animals could often be endangered by rat traps. City councilor Beate Ehms (left) emphasized that improper waste disposal further tightens the problem. Mayor Heiko Rosenthal (left) has now announced that it will be active after the city council unanimously decided to seek solutions for rat control.

according to the Federal Environment Agency are the factors of climate warming, urbanization and an increasing city population behind the rat problem. The rat population also remains stable or increases in many other cities, which requires new approaches to combat the pests. A successful fight requires a coordinated approach between the city administration and the population. This includes disposing of food residues in rattled -safe garbage cans and avoiding wild garbage deposits.

A clever and sustainable waste disposal could be the key to containing the rat plague. "No food, no council" - this knowledge could not only be a crucial step in the right direction for many cities.