Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Mouse
Mouse - Credit: Photo: bloodua/DepositPhotos
Nature
KAD
pests
rat
mouse
wasp
ANT
Bastiaan Meerburg
Coronavirus
intelligent lockdown
pest control
Monday, 6 July 2020 - 17:30
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

More reports of rats, mice possibly linked to stay at home order

The knowledge and advice center for animal pests KAD noticed an increase in pests reports in the first half of this year. KAD received 1,903 reports of pests like mice, rats, and wasps in the first six months of the year, compared to 1,235 in the same period last year. The center thinks the coronavirus, and the related order to stay at home as much as possible, has something to do with the increase, NOS reports.

"People were at home more and reported more often," KAD director Bastiaan Meerburg said to the broadcaster. "In addition, animals showed changing behavior because of the lockdown situation. Rats that were at a fast food restaurant, for example, suddenly had to look for food elsewhere when the restaurants were closed." Other contributing factors include that some companies did not bring in their pest controller during the lockdown, and an increase in media attention making people more alert to pests, Meerburg said.

KAD received 1,280 reports of rats, 292 of ants, 63 of wasps, 45 of mice, and 36 of stone martens. Meerburg believes that the actual pest problem in the Netherlands is much larger than these figures show. "The policy for pest control is far too fragmented. It lies with four different ministries, but who exactly is responsible for the total is unclear," he said to the broadcaster. "At the moment, whether you suffer from pests really depends on where you live. One municipality is really working on it, while the other is not doing much about it."

KAD therefore advocates for a more centralized approach to pest control. "The better we can identify nuisance, the better we can prevent and control animal pests." And that is very important, Meerburg said. "This is also evident from research by the [World Health Organization]. Those who live in an environment with many pests feel less comfortable and sometimes also have psychological complaints." Pests can also carry diseases, he added.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Rutte: EU leaders close to an agreement on extra €3.5 billion for Ukraine weapons
  • Some cancellations at Eindhoven Airport due to climate protest
  • Police identify woman found dead in forest near Dutch palace; Crime suspected
  • Central bank president lashes out at Dutch Cabinet over deficit levels
  • Dutch MP given suspended jail sentence, community service for unlicensed driving
  • Dutch gov't warns Oranje fans to avoid Paris protests ahead of Euro football match

Top stories

  • Deliveroo couriers are salaried employees, not freelancers, Supreme Court rules
  • 7-year-old girl killed in accident with Utrecht city bus; Boy, 5, seriously hurt
  • Amsterdam public transport to be scaled down from this summer: report
  • Households' disposable income grew 2% last year, despite inflation
  • Most NL residents want to scrap interest on student loans
  • Strike: No international trains to & from Germany on Monday; Some night trains cancelled

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content