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fullscreen Rats are looking for something to eat on Sergels torg in Stockholm. Archive image. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
Last year, Anticimex caught close to 1.1 million rats in Sweden, reports TV4 Nyheterna. This corresponds to an increase of 5 percent.
The exact figure landed at 1,076,148 trapped rats in 2024, according to Anticimex’s annual report.
The pests thrive underground where they find shelter and food in wires and pipes.
– It’s like an all-inclusive hotel down there. There is free access to housing, food and water, says Magnus Rosenholm, pest expert at the company, to TV4.
The rats cause damage by breaking floor drains, gnawing on pipe fittings and undermining ground under properties.
Compared to 2023, the number of rats caught increased by five percent. The problem is particularly large in the big cities and one reason for the increase is that the cities are densified, while more traps have been placed.
– The rats reproduce incredibly quickly. The best thing is to prevent it and keep it to a reduced level so that you don’t let it shine, says Rosenholm.