Berlin rats: provocative appearances and less shy about people!

Berlin rats: provocative appearances and less shy about people!

In the past few months, Berlin rats have shown a remarkable change in behavior. They are less and less afraid of people in their urban environment. This was found in various parts of the city, especially on Hermannplatz, where a rat with a shiny fur was observed, expressed quiet tones and apparently examined their surroundings curiously. This rat even seemed to be actively waving the observer, which speaks for a provocative and self -confident behavior. However, the exact reasons for this change in behavior remain unclear, a fact that is discussed again and again, as the Berliner Zeitung reports.

In Berlin, an estimated several million rats live, which are mainly in parks, cellars and houses. In 2022, more than 8,000 cases of rat infestation were produced in the city. This number is particularly alarming because rats can cause hygiene problems and transmit diseases. Florian Kraft, a chamber hunter, reports that rats are often attracted by the legacies of people, such as leftovers. For this reason, he regularly carries out measures to control the rat population with poison baits.

about the infestation and its consequences

A rat infestation has already been demonstrated after a single rat. Interestingly, this infestation should be reported to the responsible district. The Situation in playgrounds is particularly problematic, which at times had to be blocked due to rat infestation. According to the Berlin water operations, there were already estimates in Berlin in 2015. The Marzahn-Hellersdorf district recorded the most control measures with 1,553 cases, while Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf reported very few.

rats are not only successful survival artists, but very adaptable. They live where people offer food and nesting opportunities. The hiking rat (Rattus Norvegicus) is particularly predominant in Central Europe, while the house rat (Rattus Rattus) is less common. These rats can transmit dangerous pathogens such as salmonella and leptospiruses. The transmission paths are diverse, for example through bites or contact with contaminated foods.

prevention measures and tolerance

Security measures to combat rats include the correct disposing of garbage and avoiding exaggerated spreading of bird feed. Health experts recommend removing food residues promptly to minimize the food source for the rats. However, the wildlife expert Derk Ehlert from the Berlin Senate sees no big problem with rats and advocates greater tolerance to these animals that make up an important part of urban life.

in Berlin, the rat population is omnipresent as part of the urban ecosystem. It remains a challenge to find a harmonious coexistence, while the city administration and chamber hunter Constant work on measures to control this plague.