Rat plague in Favoriten: City of Vienna remains powerless in the park!

Rat plague in Favoriten: City of Vienna remains powerless in the park!

A real Mice problem has arisen in theSuchwirtpark in Vienna-Favoriten! The reader Katarina discovered several rats there and sent a snapshot and a video to the editorial team at Today. However, the city of Vienna appears powerless and has responded to the problem. The municipal department 42 - Vienna City Gardens explains that this green area is a protected area in which rat control is only possible to a limited extent.

Why is that so? Well, a critical species lives near the park, the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), which is considered the rarest wild hamster species in the world and was listed as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2020. As part of Vienna's Animal Welfare Act, it is forbidden to capture or disturb this class of animals. For the Vienna city gardens, which are loud Animal Protection Austria are in communication with the environmental protection department (MA 22), this means that they have to adapt their rat control strategies in order to protect the rights of the European hamster.

Regulations and challenges

The city has no easy task ahead of it. Instead of simply using rodenticides, as provided for in the rat regulations issued in 2005, attention must now also be paid to protecting the field hamsters. The use of poison boxes, which has been an issue in Vienna in the past, could be considered problematic. An ORF broadcast from 2022 also reported on this, in which rat control in Vienna was critically examined.

A look at the legal framework shows that the Austrian administration must act not only in accordance with the Animal Protection Act, but also on the basis of European guidelines. A 2021 ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) strengthens the protection of endangered species and stipulates that resting places that are no longer actively used are also protected. This also includes areas where European hamsters could potentially return, further complicating the situation in Vienna.

Situation in the search host park

The Vienna City Gardens confirmed that they will continue to monitor the situation in suchtwirt Park and take action if necessary. But what can they do while the rat population briskly multiplies? Innovative approaches such as birth control, which is being tested in some US cities, could be a way to regulate rat numbers in the long term.

The rat infestation in Search Wirt Park is an example of how nature conservation and everyday urban life can often come into conflict. It remains to be hoped for residents and visitors that a solution will be found that balances both human needs and the protection of the European hamster. The responsibility now lies with the responsible city authorities, who must take on the challenge of finding an environmentally friendly solution that takes both sides into account.