Health News
This European country’s plan to turn its citizens into exterminators as rat population explodes
Denmark is experiencing an overpopulation of rats in some of its municipalities, so the government is taking action.
This year, numerous municipalities in Denmark have reported rat infestations. Consequently, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has chosen to expand the number of training courses for pest controllers to address this issue, which are set to begin next year.
More rats than in 2023
Claus Schultz, president of Denmark’s pest control industry association, has never received so many calls about the rat population.
In one municipality, Aalborg, in the North Jutland region, twice as many reports have been received this year than in 2023. Over in Aarhus, there were 1,019 reports of rat sightings in October, 65 percent more than in the same month last year.
Though residents are horrified, the increase in the rat population has proven good for business. The demand has risen so rapidly that the country has found that it does not have enough qualified exterminators. Schultz warned that the lack of laborers means companies are forced to prioritize the most severe cases, postponing the others until an exterminator is available.
More than 60 people have already registered for the course
In the new year, the country will begin offering courses to train the population to become exterminators. According to Schultz, sixty people have already signed up, and the industry is prepared to hire those individuals.
Typically, 150 people complete the course in under a week each year. “Newly licensed pest controllers should not be afraid of losing their jobs,” says the president of the industry association for pest control companies.
As for why the population has exploded so rapidly, a wet autumn and mild winter are to blame. Additionally, the country has seen a significant increase in acorns and beech trees, which provide perfect nourishment for these rodents.