Anderlecht (Brussels Morning Newspaper): On January 2, Lize Spit filmed eight rats in Anderlecht. Biologist Olivier Beck noted rat populations in Brussels have doubled in a decade.
On January 2, Lize Spit saw eight brown rats while at Baraplein in Anderlecht and posted a video online with the hashtag #rattenplaag. But Olivier Beck, a biologist from Leefmilieu Brussel, said this isn’t a rat plague. He explained that it’s normal to see groups of rats in Brussels because they live well in the city. When conditions are good, they can have babies quickly, which is why people might notice more rats around.
What measures is Leefmilieu Brussel taking to address the increasing rat population in the city?
Leefmilieu Brussel has been trying to deal with the rat problem in the city. They tell people not to feed animals leftovers, which can bring in rats. They also work with private companies to help manage the situation. But a new report shows that there are more rats now than 10 or 20 years ago. Olivier Beck said this might be because more people are sharing videos and stories about rats. He added that rats have always been part of city life, especially because cities have big sewer systems where they can live.
According to Olivier Beck, a biologist from Brussels Environment, we should accept that rats will always be around. He thinks it’s unrealistic to think we can get rid of them completely because they are very smart. If you see a rat, don’t be scared. Just use common sense, and don’t try to catch or move it, as it can bite.
