Assistance needed. - Town hall leader criticism official over ant infestation in Kehl.
The mayor of Kehl, Wolfram Britz, is raising the alarm about an infestation of invasive ants in his city, calling for assistance from the state environmental ministry and other authorities. According to the city, these ants are of the Mediterranean species, Tapinoma magnum, and have left municipalities on their own to deal with the situation.
Britz, a non-partisan municipal politician, believes that to effectively combat this issue, strong networks should be formed between researchers, businesses, and politicians. This work needs to be carried out swiftly, efficiently, and in a consistent manner. The city has spotted two districts with these ants so far. They've been trying to combat this problem since autumn with hot foam, but the ants have rapidly multiplied. In the district of Marlen, there's a "supercolony" spanning several hectares, containing millions of the black insects.
These ants have already caused disruptions in local households, leading to power and internet outages. Koschate, the city's environmental officer, stated that there's currently no reliable method to eradicate the invasive ants. Dealing with a single supercolony alone could cost the city at least 50,000 euros per week.
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- The mayor of Kehl has reached out to municipalities across Baden-Württemberg, seeking advice and potential collaborations to manage the ant infestation.
- The BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety) has not yet released a statement regarding the Kehl ant infestation, but environmental experts from various universities in the Ortenau district have been called upon for their expertise.
- Curiosities about these ants have led to a surge of interest in the Throat region, with many residents signing up for local workshops to learn more about ant species and organic pest control methods.
- Animal lovers in Kehl have expressed concern about the impact of the invasive ants on other animal species in the area, particularly those living in forests and nearby woodlands where the ants have been spotted.
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