Aalborg warns residents to stop dumping food waste as rat infestations rise

Aalborg Municipality has urged residents to properly dispose of food waste after reporting a surge in discarded scraps on streets and in parks, which is attracting rats, DR reports.

Biologist and rodent control specialist Kirsten Dyhr-Jensen said food waste is a major draw for rats, which quickly move into areas where it is left behind—even if intended for other wildlife.

“If they find food waste left out for wild animals, we typically see rats moving in fast,” Dyhr-Jensen said. She noted that while some people deliberately feed rats, others leave food for deer or foxes, mistakenly assuming wild animals enjoy human food.

“Some might think a deer would want pasta salad, but it doesn’t,” added nature guide Mikkel Rødvig, stressing that most wild animals do not benefit from processed human food.

The municipality currently has around 600 open rat-related cases—higher than usual—with officials warning that improper disposal can lead to rapid rodent breeding. Rats may then spread from feeding sites into homes and gardens, Dyhr-Jensen explained.

Residents are reminded to place all food waste in designated green bags and use official organic waste bins. Failing to do so risks disease transmission, as rats are known carriers of various illnesses, Dyhr-Jensen said.