logo
Dublin Zoo bosses draft in specialist team after visitor makes ‘genuinely grim' discovery in major pest control alert

Dublin Zoo bosses draft in specialist team after visitor makes ‘genuinely grim' discovery in major pest control alert

The Irish Sun08-05-2025

DUBLIN Zoo bosses have urged the public to report any sightings of rodents, as they are working with specialists to 'manage pest control'.
A visitor complained to zoo staff that it was 'overrun with rats' last weekend, according to the
2
A visitor complained about Dublin Zoo being 'overrun with rats'
Credit: Getty
They said: 'It was really shocking. Myself and two kids counted seven running very close to us at different times, I nearly stepped on one, it was genuinely grim.
'We can't be the only ones who noticed. It must be a health hazard for humans and
Dublin Zoo chiefs urged they follow the 'stringent codes of practice, as laid down by European and Global Associations'.
A spokesperson said: 'Our dedicated teams work consistently hard to uphold these high standards for both our visitors and animals.
READ MORE ON TRAVEL
'Outdoor attractions such as
'As an outdoor facility located in a large public park, Dublin Zoo has protocols in place to monitor and manage pest control within the perimeter of the site, excluding any surrounding areas where these practices may differ.'
The spokesperson said: 'We are working with a team of specialists to manage pest control and have engaged with them regarding the recent sightings.
Most read in News Travel
'If visitors observe anything of concern, Dublin Zoo asks that they inform a member of management during their visit.'
A guest also reported seeing 'too many rats scurrying around' last June.
How Insta-friendly island is descending into a 'rat-infested disaster zone'
She said: 'The zoo itself is lovely but the amount of rats running around was petrifying. As we were having our picnic one just scurried past my foot.
'We thought maybe it was because there was food around, but no as we walked around we saw about three more.'
Separately, an expert has revealed a simple and inexpensive way to help keep
This method could save you from trialling and testing various shop-bought products, as pest control specialists say the treatment is 'highly effective.'
First, ensure your garden is tidy and move your bins as far away as possible, as rats are often drawn to scavenging through them.
Experts recommend sealing rubbish bins, properly containing compost, and cleaning up any spilt food.
Professionals from Dan's Carpet Care also suggest using a natural repellent, such as peppermint oil, which they believe 'works the best' due to its 'powerful essential oil' properties.
It's safe to use around humans and pets while being 'highly effective against rats and mice.'
To use peppermint oil, mix equal parts of oil and water in a spray bottle and apply it around your garden.
2
Guests should to report 'anything of concern' to staff
Credit: Getty

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Review: Rewilding leading to a ‘hopeful shift' across Europe
Review: Rewilding leading to a ‘hopeful shift' across Europe

Agriland

timean hour ago

  • Agriland

Review: Rewilding leading to a ‘hopeful shift' across Europe

Rewilding Europe's 2024 annual review has revealed that nature is driving a 'hopeful shift' across European landscapes. It claims that rewilding across Europe is gaining momentum with a return of iconic species, and the restoration of dynamic, self sustaining ecosystems. Rewilding Europe's latest annual review has showcased a year of 'meaningful progress' that illustrates how 'natural intelligence' is being harnessed to reshape landscapes, inspire communities, and address pressing ecological and societal challenges. According to Rewilding Europe, natural processes are being given space to thrive across Europe. The report has highlighted the resurgence, showing how rewilding is moving from the margins to the mainstream, delivering tangible outcomes for nature, climate, and people. Rewilding Europe The executive director of Rewilding Europe, Frans Schepers outlined how natural process have shaped and sustained life on Earth 'for millions of years'. 'Just as artificial intelligence is being employed to make everything work smarter, faster, and more intuitively, rewilding puts natural intelligence to work, making large-scale nature recovery feasible and sustainable,' Schepers said. The group has said that it's report 'is filled' with examples of what happens when human beings trust in nature's resilience. It highlights milestones across ten European landscapes, from restoring free flowing rivers that reduce floods and droughts, to the return of European bison, wild horses, and vultures that help restore essential natural processes. The report also takes a closer look at how rewilding is unlocking land for nature, harnessing new legislation, restoring ecological abundance, and advancing wildlife-smart communities that are pioneering new ways of living with nature, economically, culturally, and socially. Rewilding Europe has said that it's aim is to make Europe a 'wilder place', with more space for wildlife and natural processes. It believes that wild nature should be valued and treated as an essential element of a prosperous and healthy society.

Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds
Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds

Irish Examiner

timea day ago

  • Irish Examiner

Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds

Young people feel their future has been robbed, with millions around the world unable to have the number of children they want, the UN's reproductive health agency has warned. The UN Population Fund's (UNPFA) annual survey reflects fears similar to those held by young Irish people facing a housing crisis, as fertility levels also decline here. Ireland's fertility rate per woman is reported as 1.6 compared to the global rate of 2.2, even though maternal deaths in pregnancy data show Ireland is one of the safest countries to have a baby. A large-scale survey across 14 countries found the top reasons for not having as many children as desired are financial constraints (39%), job insecurity (21%) and housing (19%). Other reasons included climate fears (9%) and people under 40 — especially women — citing worries about unequal division of domestic work between men and women. 'It is not uncommon for young people to feel cheated — to believe that their futures have been robbed from them by policymakers impervious to their lived realities,' the UNFPA said. It called for urgent action on what it described as 'the real crisis in fertility', as people reported an inability to make free and informed choices about when to have sex or use contraception or start a family. Executive director Natalia Kanem said the data showed some people chose not to have children for ecological reasons. 'They're worried about overpopulation,' she said. 'And it's simply not true that individual decision to not have a child is going to create the end of climate change, or whatever it would be.' She said what was needed instead was changes in government policy. 'So managing family-supportive policies, making sure that housing costs and the intense expectations on parents can be tempered by social policy,' she said. 'This would go a long way to address those barriers.' Many African countries see a trend for population growth, but in Jamaica and many European countries populations are shrinking, she said. The data also shows 'we're stalling now on gender equality', she told a media briefing. Across 14 countries surveyed, two children was the most commonly desired family size. However, 11% of adults believe they will have fewer children than they choose and 7% believed they will have more. The report also highlighted changing attitudes to teenage pregnancy as contributing to falling fertility rates. In Ireland, the birth rate among women aged 15 to 24 stood at three births per 1,000 women during 2001 to 2024. Argentina saw births among this age group drop from 64 per 1,000 a decade ago to 25 in 2022. Birth remains dangerous in many countries. While in Ireland the maternal mortality rate is four women's deaths per 100,000 live births, this reaches 628 in Liberia. Afghanistan also has limited maternity care, leading to a maternal mortality rate of 521 per 100,000 live births. Read More Councillors erupt into war of words after former Cork lord mayor votes against social housing scheme

My algae-covered fence panels went from green to brown overnight with a £12 Wickes buy you just have to spray and leave
My algae-covered fence panels went from green to brown overnight with a £12 Wickes buy you just have to spray and leave

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

My algae-covered fence panels went from green to brown overnight with a £12 Wickes buy you just have to spray and leave

AN AFFORDABLE, easy-to-use product could help keep your garden in tip-top shape this summer. The fence cleaner will help ensure you can be garden proud as we approach the summer months. 3 The KilrockPRO Wood, Deck & Fence Cleaner is available for £12 from Wickes Credit: Wicks 3 One reviewer showed off how effective the product had been on their fence Credit: Wickes What's more, the product is available for just £12 at Wickes. The A product description on the Wickes website reads: "The KilrockPRO Wood, Deck & Fence Cleaner cleans, brightens and rejuvenates outdoor wooden surfaces." It can be used for a wide range of purposes, making the £12 price tag seem like even better value for money. Read more Fabulous The cleaner can be used to tackle dirt and stains caused by algae, mould and mildew on With 5 litres of concentrate, it can make up to 50 litres of usable product when diluted, ensuring you have enough to keep your fences Once diluted, the formula can be applied using a spray or a brush. For bigger areas of growth, a spray can help speed up the process, while a brush might help get those hard to reach spots in between fence panels. Most read in Fabulous After waiting for a suitable length of time, according to the product's instruction manual, the product can then be washed off. My garden was looking so old and the patio was broken - now it's a lush oasis and people can't believe how little I spent Reviews for the product were They added: "Moral of the story - use Kilrock fence cleaner first, on a dry day without any threat of rain for at least 6 hours and then leave it for 3 days or so to work it's magic. "It will save you days of time and effort!" Another customer said they use a dilution ratio of one to four, left it for 24 hours, before rewashing it which has meant their "decking has come up like new." One reviewer posted a photo of their fence, clearly showing the difference between the algae covered panels and the They wrote: "From what I can tell, people who have had trouble and left poor reviews are expecting instant results. It works overnight - spray and leave it alone!" Others were less positive, saying that A couple of lower rated comments suggested that soapy water and a stiff broom would have done just as good a job. 3 The cleaner claims to prevent regrowth for several months Credit: Getty The diluted formula is also safe on plants and grass, as it doesn't contain bleach or acid, meaning the rest of your Shoppers are advised to test the solution on a small "inconspicuous" area before applying to the rest of the fence. Once cleaned, the product description claims that it "provides long lasting surface protection that deters regrowth for months."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store