Heatwave drives rodents into homes in Serbia, expert warns of health risks

Extreme heatwaves are forcing rodents to abandon their outdoor habitats and seek refuge in homes and buildings across Serbia, a veterinary expert has warned. Milutin Đorđević, head of the zoohygiene department at the University of Belgrade's Veterinary Faculty, stated that the high temperatures are making outdoor environments increasingly unfavorable for these pests.

“

Rodents are synanthropic pests, meaning organisms that live near humans. During spring, they migrate from apartments and houses to their immediate surroundings, but now, due to very high temperatures, their habitats are becoming unfavorable again.

Rodents, which typically migrate outdoors in spring, are now returning to urban and densely populated areas, particularly Belgrade. They are burrowing into the ground and creating tunnels, but as deeper soil layers heat up to around 50 centimeters, these shelters become unbearable. Consequently, they are moving towards human structures, seeking cooler spaces in building foundations, sewage openings, and utility installations.

“

Ideal new shelters for them are cavities in foundations and buildings, sewage openings, and other installations. They seek apartments, business premises, basements, and garages, where the temperature is lower than outdoors.

Đorđević explained that rodents are not only looking for shelter but also for water. If outdoor water sources become scarce, they will attempt to find them within buildings, including basements and other accessible areas. He also noted that a similar pattern could be observed with insects, especially large cockroaches, which prefer damp environments and will seek out moisture within apartments and storage spaces.

“

If you spot rodents during the day, it means the population size is not small, but large. If you spot them in the evening, when you suddenly turn on the light in the basement, garage, or house, and it even happens in apartments, it is a sign that you should call professional services that deal with rodent control.

The expert highlighted that spotting rodents during the daytime is a clear indicator of a large population, signaling the need for professional pest control. He stressed the importance of systematic deratization, conducted in spring and autumn, being carried out effectively. The increased presence of rodents poses significant health and economic risks, making it crucial to reduce their numbers in close proximity to humans. Đorđević also cautioned that rodents can transmit numerous diseases, making their presence in homes undesirable, especially for households with pets.

“

Increased rodent numbers bring health and economic risks, so it is important to reduce their population to a minimum in our immediate environment.