According to Alderman Fabrice Goffin (Vooruit Oostende), this approach can lead to a 70% reduction in the number of rats within two years. “This is an effective way to combat rats, without having to kill these creatures by poisoning or drowning, which is still very common,” says Goffin.
Poison resistant
Gianna Werbrouck, Flemish MP from Vooruit, wants this method to also be used in the rest of Flanders. “We know that rats are becoming increasingly resistant to poison. Research by the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) shows that in some places 50% of rats are already resistant to certain types of poison. Moreover, poisoning also has some minor side effects. It is obviously not very pleasant for the rat itself. But poisoned animals can also be harmful to other animals and the environment.”
Ostend approach as an example
On February 25, Werbrouck asked Minister Ben Weyts about this in the Animal Welfare Committee. The minister indicated that he would have the new birth control methods further studied by INBO. If this turns out to be a good alternative to rat control, a ban on drowning boxes, for example, cannot be ruled out. “In Ostend, people are preparing to roll out this new approach. The minister and INBO can certainly keep their ear to the ground there in the near future,” concludes Werbrouck.
