Nutella helped trap more than 80 rats in Kemi

Kemi’s city-centre rat problem has eased after more than 80 rats were trapped in one block over the summer, Yle reports. The Meri-Lapland environmental health authority says the problem has not disappeared completely.

Trapping ended at the end of July after no more rats were caught. Authorities carried out their latest inspection of the block, where the infestation had been concentrated.

Entrepreneur Samuli Myllyneva, who is renovating an old wooden building in the block into a restaurant, caught more than 30 rats himself using Nutella as bait.

“There was a real sense of urgency that the rats would take over the whole property. It is difficult to run a restaurant if rats eat the food. Fortunately, they were caught,” Myllyneva said.

Myllyneva and the housing companies operating next door eventually hired a pest-control professional to trap the remaining rats, partly using poison.

“I believe that played a major role. You cannot keep killing rats with traps indefinitely. I think hiring the pest controller was the final factor,” Myllyneva said.

Tarja Pesonen, a senior health inspector at the Meri-Lapland environmental health authority, said the problem was not limited to one block.

“The situation has been partly brought under control, but the city centre will probably never become completely rat-free. There are likely rats elsewhere too, and we are continuing to investigate the matter,” Pesonen said.

Rats may have spread from demolished buildings

Kemi’s rat problem began in the summer of last year, when vacant buildings in the city centre were demolished. About 50 rats were trapped at the time, but they were seen again during the winter.

The city centre is also planned to have more long-vacant properties demolished. Myllyneva believes rats may have been nesting in neglected old buildings and could scatter when the buildings are torn down.

Pesonen said responsibility for eliminating rats and preventing infestations lies with property owners. Fallen apples should not be left on the ground as food for rats, and overgrown vegetation should be cut back. Yards should also be cleared of places where rats could nest.

Waste-bin lids should be intact and kept closed, Pesonen said. The environmental health authority has also recommended ending winter bird feeding in Kemi’s city centre.

Old rat burrows should be filled in to prevent them from supporting further breeding, Pesonen added.