Rats increasingly spotted in Tallinn's Põhja-Tallinn district
Authorities in Tallinn's Põhja-Tallinn district are collecting resident reports about rats and other rodents to identify problem areas and begin pest control, with the issue also affecting the Kesklinn district.
The district government of Põhja-Tallinn has begun gathering information from residents about locations where rats, mice and their colonies have been spotted, aiming to identify the worst-affected spots and launch targeted pest control there. Residents are asked to report rodent sightings, especially if they occur regularly or in large numbers, with reports being collected until August 16.
District elder Manuela Pihlap said pest control efforts typically begin once a large number of complaints come in from residents. Within a day of the district's announcement, about 150 calls were received from residents, indicating the problem is serious. Rats mainly live near residential buildings and trash bins, so the main method of control is checking places where they could find food.
Problem also affects other districts
Põhja-Tallinn is not alone in dealing with rats — they are also frequently spotted in the Kesklinn district. Kesklinn resident Indrek Hirs said consistency is crucial in fighting rodents, and it helps if neighboring buildings act at the same time, since rats are intelligent animals that will simply relocate to more comfortable spots.
One factor attracting rats is bird feeding, which is now strictly banned in Tallinn. Rats also like feeding near restaurants — Tallinn resident Maie-Liis Ossip described spotting dozens of rats gathered in the city center.
Pest control specialists say careless waste handling remains one of the main causes of rodent spread in the city. Control Lab board member Meelis Lepp explained that rats are numerous across all of Tallinn, particularly in old buildings offering more hiding spots, while food service establishments regularly monitor to keep rats away from their premises.
Specialists recommend using the summer period to prepare buildings for the cold season, when rodents start seeking shelter — finding and sealing all small gaps and openings rats and mice could use to enter, and ensuring food waste isn't easily accessible. The best prevention is simply keeping the area around buildings tidy.
