Paris Authorities Create Working Group to Address Rat Issues

The Paris City Hall has established a working group that will tackle the issue of coexistence with rats. This group will explore ways to improve the living conditions of Parisians despite the presence of rodents throughout the city, reported CNEWS.

To ensure that “life for Parisians does not become unbearable,” the newly created group is tasked with proposing effective measures. Ann Suyrin, Deputy Mayor in charge of health issues, announced on-air that the group must develop an “ambitious plan to combat the spread of rats,” which will involve purchasing thousands of new trash bins and installing poison-filled traps “when necessary.”

The working group will also need to devise strategies to influence Paris residents who do not clean up after themselves. As Suyrin noted, rats “are not a public health issue,” even though they are considered carriers of leptospirosis, which primarily threatens waste collectors who can be vaccinated.

The conclusions drawn by the city hall have been welcomed by animal welfare organizations, which have previously advocated for “non-lethal” methods in the fight against rodents.