Szczcza Curse in European cities. “They reproduce faster than ever”

Rodents are a big problem in many European cities, and the warming climate only promotes their reproduction. The situation is particularly serious in Amsterdam – only 6,800 cases of a rat in a private apartment or commercial premises were reported in the capital of the Netherlands in 2024. Berlin and Paris are also fighting with the “ratchet”, in which garbage is one of the reasons for the growing population.

Rats with quiet residents of European cities

There are more than four million rats in Paris today. The French capital is not the only place where seeing rodents in the light of the day is no longer surprising. According to TVP, in Berlin you can get a fine for throwing kebabs on the streets that attract unwanted residents with their intense smell.

According to research published in Science Advanses, the problem is also particularly visible on the streets of Amsterdam. Rats go there a step further, because they not only penetrate nearby trash, but enter apartments or shops. Over 6,000 were recorded only in 2024 such cases of “violation of home mirus”. It is also worried about the size of rodents, which can reach an impressive 50 centimeters.

Reasons for rats

Scientists point to several causes of the growing rat population, especially in Western European cities. The first and most important is climate warming, which promotes their reproduction. Human activity and related waste are also important. Green cities are a paradise for rats – the more parks or squares offering rats shelter in the city center, the greater the number of this species will be.

According to the authors, the prescription research is not massive racing of rodents, but making cities less attractive to them. Therefore, they see the greatest field for change in improving waste management systems or sealing sewage installations.