More rats than Vienna residents – “Rat control serves to prevent epidemics and is an important service for the health of the city,” says Fiedler
Vienna (OTS) – Pests are a serious danger: bedbugs attack people and animals, cockroaches are potential disease carriers and cause food to spoil, rats are often infected with all kinds of pathogens and can contribute to the development of epidemics. “Rats threaten life and health,” says Peter Fiedler, chairman of the pest control sector at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. And: “If you don’t take action, rats will multiply extremely quickly.”
More rats than Viennese
The number of rats in Vienna has long since overtaken the number of people in Vienna, and how many there are per capita can hardly be estimated. But the rate at which the population is growing appears to be increasing significantly. Reasons for this: the abolition of the rat law, which was replaced by the Vienna Rat Ordinance in 2005, the growing mountains of garbage, which leads to overflowing garbage cans full of leftover food. A paradise for rats. Fiedler: “Rats are typical cultural followers and naturally thrive in a throwaway society. Less garbage disposed of more carefully means fewer rats.” The connection between rats and health is obvious because rats can, among other things, transmit bacteria such as salmonella and thus diseases. The pathogens are also present in the excrement. “Fiedler: “Rat control serves to prevent epidemics and is an important service for the health of the city.”
Increased number of rat sightings
The pest controllers’ guild reports an increased number of rat sightings in Vienna and draws attention to the important service provided by professional pest controllers. “Unfortunately, despite the legal obligation, rats are no longer combated across the board today,” says Fiedler: “They prefer to live where there is water, green islands, lots of restaurants and/or a high density of people.” According to the rat ordinance, owners are subject to inspection and rat control and there is an obligation to hire professional pest controllers, but there may still be possible failures in pest control. “Unfortunately, some owners do not take care of pest control sufficiently or irregularly. This can lead to rat infestations and subsequent problems that go unnoticed for a long time,” says Fiedler.
Do not throw away food and pet food carelessly
To combat rats, the guild points out two important measures: On the one hand, the appeal to homeowners is to hire professional pest controllers for regular inspections and rat control and, on the other hand, a request to the population to immediately report rat sightings to the responsible property management. This is the only way to combat it quickly, specifically and efficiently. To further prevent pests in public spaces, it is necessary not to throw away food and animal feed carelessly, but to dispose of them in designated garbage cans and make sure that they are intact. Under no circumstances should food leftovers be disposed of via toilets or in the wastewater. Fiedler also cares about animal welfare: “The fact is: If you stop putting out bait and rat populations multiply unhindered, they become a life-threatening danger for the European hamster. Because rats eat hamsters. We have already observed this phenomenon in some properties in Vienna.”
High level of training
Good training is necessary for professionalism in this craft. In addition to good training to become a pest controller, the knowledge and skills of employees in this service industry are also important. Poor control measures can, in addition to various processing damages, also lead to the development of resistance in the pests to be controlled. Information about training at: https://schädlingskampfakademie.at/
About Vienna’s pest controllers
There are currently around 70 pest control companies in Vienna. Pest control is a trade with tradition, a craft with a master’s degree since 1994. Since 2002 there has also been an apprenticeship in pest control, which also makes it possible to train skilled workers in the second educational path. While very toxic preparations were previously used to combat cockroaches, bugs, mice and rats, modern and environmentally friendly methods are now available. Be careful of lure offers from dubious companies. Commercially licensed companies can be found at www.schaedling.or.at
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Anna Trummer
Vienna Chamber of Commerce
Press and newsroom
T +43 660 4816667
E anna.richter-trummer@wkw.at
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