Report rats 
For example, have you discovered rats in a garden, on the street, in a public park or in the vicinity of a grocery store or restaurant? Find out more here.
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Basic information
Rats can transmit dangerous diseases.
If you see rats, report them to the relevant authorities.
Rats are increasingly found in places where waste is stored openly. These include, for example, wild garbage dumps, open garbage and organic waste garbage cans and compost heaps.
The health of humans and protected animals must not be endangered in the course of pest control.
Requirements
You have discovered rats in your neighborhood.
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Procedure
On private property
Inform the owner of the property or your landlord. Inform them that you have seen rats on the property. The owner of the property is responsible for removing the rat infestation.
Note: If you do not know the owner of the property, you can inform the Bremen public health department.
If your own property is affected, you are responsible for rat control on your own property. Contact a professional pest control company for this.
On public areas
Report to the Bremen Health Department where you have seen rats. The public health department will advise you and refer you to the relevant authorities. You are welcome to use the form for reporting rat infestations under "Forms".
More information
How do you avoid rat infestation?
Structural defects:
Make sure that there are no openings, such as holes or cracks in external walls. Doors that cannot be closed or are open also allow animals to enter the building.
Storage of yellow bags:
Store yellow bags in locked rooms. If this is not possible, hang the bags on a hook on the wall, for example. Food or pet food leftovers in packaging attract rats.
Organic waste garbage cans and composters:
Regularly check for rodent tracks or openings on the organic waste garbage can and composter. Rats gnaw through the plastic from below to get to freshly discarded food scraps.
Compost heap:
Do not dispose of unprepared, non-vegetable food waste or cooked food waste in the compost heap. This will inevitably attract rats.
Ground cover:
Trim ground cover regularly to give rats as little shelter as possible.
Private animal housing:
Be sure to remove leftover food after each feeding (for example, chickens). This will prevent them from moving in and nesting.
Feeding places in open spaces and bodies of water:
Do not feed pigeons and ducks. The leftover food attracts rats.
Sewers:
Never dispose of food scraps down the toilet.
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Necessary Documents
- None
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Competent Department
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Gesundheitsamt Bremen
- (0421) 361-15113
- (0421) 361-15554
- Horner Straße 60 - 70, 28203 Bremen
- Website
- office
@gesundheitsamt. bremen. de - Legally secure e-communication more
Contact Person
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Beratung und Meldung bei Schädlingsbefall
Telefonische Sprechzeiten:
Montag- Freitag: 10:00-12:00 Uhr
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Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
Not specified.
How long does it take to process
Not specified.
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Legal Bases
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 04.11.2025