Middelfart municipality replaces rat poison with peanut butter and remoulade

The Danish municipality of Middelfart has cut its use of rat poison by 87% after switching to greener pest control methods, including traps baited with Nutella, peanut butter, and remoulade, state broadcaster DR reports.

Rather than relying on toxic baits—which can harm predators like birds of prey and foxes while polluting waterways—the municipality now prioritises snap traps, rat-sniffing dogs, surveillance cameras, and even nest boxes to encourage natural predators. In some cases, culling by shooting is permitted.

Chris Sebastian Martner, a pest controller for Middelfart, told DR that residents welcome the shift. “People are relieved there aren’t poisoned rats dying in their sheds or bushes,” he said. “Those with pets also feel much safer.”

The new approach was first tested in Middelfart town and Strib, where it proved as effective as traditional poisoning. Under the municipality’s 2025–2027 Rat Action Plan, the poison-free methods will now expand across the entire area. Officials say costs have not risen significantly, though final figures are still being assessed.