Santa Cruz Mayor Downplays Rodent Concerns Amid Rising Sightings
Santa Cruz de Tenerife officials are downplaying concerns over a recent surge in rodent sightings, attributing the issue to environmental factors and improper waste disposal while promising targeted sanitation efforts.
Public health in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has become a hot political topic following a surge in reports of rodents across the city. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, however, has downplayed the situation, telling Cadena Ser that there is no widespread infestation and that the sightings are merely isolated incidents.
Local officials attribute the increase to a mix of environmental factors and human behavior. The mayor explained that rising summer temperatures are driving rodents out of their underground nests. Furthermore, the city council is urging residents to take more responsibility, noting that leaving trash bags outside of bins and feeding animals in unauthorized public areas are attracting pests.
Residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns, reporting sightings in popular areas like Plaza del Príncipe, Plaza de los Patos, and García Sanabria Park, as well as in residential neighborhoods like Somosierra and Residencial Anaga. In Plaza del Príncipe, the council identified a specific issue at a former kiosk site, where abandoned structures have provided a breeding ground for rodents. Officials have promised to sanitize the area this week.
While officials and residents debate whether the problem constitutes a full-scale infestation, the situation highlights the ongoing challenge of keeping a busy city clean. The council is now tasked with investigating each report individually. According to the municipal government, the best way to prevent the problem from growing is to improve cleaning protocols and ensure that residents use trash bins correctly.