“There is really an explosion”: everywhere in France, the proliferation of rodents is putting rodent pests on edge

Rats usually come out quietly at night to feed. But in Cenon (Gironde), they no longer hesitate to look for food in broad daylight, even in front of homes. “We have rats everywhere and I can tell you that they are little hares. I found one in my kitchen on the first floor”says the resident of an infested residence in the TF1 news report above. “How come we can’t do something? Let the town hall provide products,” another is offended.

We could have rats coming in. It's curious, it runs everywhere, it's not possible, it's unmanageable.

Sonia Brémaud, resident of a residence in Bordeaux

In another residence, in Bordeaux, they settled under Sonia Brémaud's terrace, which had become unusable for two years. Showing a dead rat, she explains that it is “catch of the day”. “It's permanent. Every day, we plug the holes. Underneath, there are galleries. When we dig a little, you can feel that it's sinking.” she said. To get rid of them, she sets traps. “The means of defense for us is the swatter”she adds. The young woman also leaves dozens of sachets of poison, but nothing works. “We can have rats coming in. It’s curious, they run everywhere, it’s not possible, it’s unmanageable,” she laments.

These sachets of poison are sold in stores for between 20 and 60 euros. To be effective, you must change products regularly. “We sell them every day. We have several types of products to avoid addiction and ensure that we have the greatest possible effectiveness,” explains Vincent Mizzi, manager of the Weldom DIY store.

Overwhelmed rodent control companies

But when there are too many, the best solution is to call a professional. “The rodents go under the concrete slabs and then, they can go up the whole building and enter the apartments,” underlines Arnaud Tadjouri, manager of Eradiktou. In three years, his company has recruited seven new technicians to meet demand. “Previously, we did around twenty rodent control operations per month. Today, we are doing around 25 rodent control operations per day, so there has really been an explosion.” he says. According to him, during Covid, the rats, less disturbed, would have gotten into the habit of coming up from the sewers more often. And, once installed, it can take years to dislodge them. “We would have to make at least one visit every ten days for at least a year. It’s thousands of euros,” recognizes Arnaud Tadjouri.

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  “It gets them out”: why rats are increasingly visible in the streets and even in houses

Another cause, the works, like in Clermont-Ferrand where the TF1 news went in September. In this town of 141,000 inhabitants, major municipal projects have caused a resurgence of rats, according to rodent exterminators. “As there is work, there are more vibrations. So it disturbs them and it makes them rise,” explains Houssam Ayachine in the video below.

While in Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), the incivility of residents, who do not throw their waste in municipal bins, has increased the number of rats, to the great dismay of the town hall which is trying to react. This year alone, the rodent control budget amounts to 45,000 euros. “We put 1,000 small poisoned baits on the sewer drains, and we placed 50 kilos of anti-rat pellets in the burrows, so it’s a huge operation”assures Mayor Nathalie Bicais in the TF1 video below.

Var: rats too invasiveSource : News 8 p.m. Week

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But if residents do not change their habits, efforts will be in vain. Because the proliferation of rats can be very rapid. Each female reproduces five times a year on average and can bear up to eight young.