Venice Travel Forum

We will be in Venice in October and I have read that there is a rodent problem there. Does anybody know if the rat's are as bad as the pigeons, and can they be seen on the walkways.

I'm sure they're there, but I've never seen one.

I didn't see any when I was there in April.

But all towns and cities have rats. You are rarely far away from one anywhere, even if you think you are.

I don't think you need to worry about either rats or pigeons, to be honest. Neither will attack you or do you any harm.

Been there three times and I've never seen one, a rat that is. I'm sure they inhabit Venice like they do in any city really.

I saw one in my last visit to Venice, one heck of a rat it was, the size of a small dog. I reported the sighting straight away to the Pest control Health and Safety department of the Venice municipality, that I finally tracked down after a whole day. A day wasted some might say, but if my actions can help other tourists to feel safe, well, I can feel proud of myself.
However, I am still traumatised. There's no way I'm going back to Venice until it is made official that the last rat has been hunted down.

Ooooooooooh......you told me it was the size of a cat!

You are exaggerating again.

;-)

Leics, I've been trying to think of something funny to say but you've beaten me to it. Well done.

ExParisian, I think I may have eaten that rat in a restaurant near the Rialto Bridge. Bit chewy!!!

Anyone got a number for that old Pied Piper in Hamelin?

I did see a rat at Piazza di San Marco - oh, wait, that was a politician...

I am sure there are rats (rats live with humans in every city in the world); however, I imagine that there are enough half feral cats walking around that the rats make themselves scarce most of the time...like the others, I didn't see any rodentia in Venice...

Bill

Mock at your peril. This is for the asker (the Pest control department of Venice), take a picture, if you call them straight away, they'll come and sort it all out (it's free for public places):


COMUNE DI VENEZIA
Ufficio Tutela degli Animali e dell'Igiene Pubblica
S. Marco 4023
30124 VENEZIA

FAX 0412748758 e 0412748373

I have seen rats in Venice. They tend to show themselves when most people have hit the sack for the night. Being a bit of a night owl, I enjoy walking in Venice when it's empty, but I've only seen rats near the water's edge and then, only off the beaten track.
That said, no matter where you live, you're probably within 10 feet of a rat.

There surely are water rats. I've been to Venice four times and the closest I ever came to seeing one was a dark shape father down the fondamenta where we were walking. A woman coming from the other direction stopped and backed up until the "thing" ran off. That being said, if you're going to worry about every germ/bug/whatever, don't travel, stay home in your bubble. Experiencing the beauty of Venice far outweighs the slight possiblity of seeing a rat!

I would suspect that most North Americans (although I don't know where the OP is from) would be more surprised at seeing dogs stroll around the tables at restaurants (they still allow that, don't they?) than rats in dark corners in alleys.

"Does anybody know if the rat's are as bad as the pigeons" - put this way, the answer is a simple 'no'...

Bill

I was there for a whole week last summer and never saw one.

Well, you were lucky, they are terrifying! Call the Pest control experts as soon as you spot one, won't take you long (see my previous post)

Two legged rats scare me more than four legged rats - meant to be funny but also true

I was there a few weeks ago for r four days and saw 2. One on the lido,mid-morning. near the vap stop. the other close to sanmarco when the tide was very high, it had obviously been flooded out. I dont like rats, but they are verywhere that people are. We did have one in our kitchen once, whcih was NOT nice, but I still wouldnt have a cat.

I've been to Venice four times, twice for a month at a time. I don't recall ever seeing a rat, but that's not to say that there aren't any. Been to Paris three times and on the last trip saw a rat literally strolling down the street in the gutter. The size of a robust cat. Big deal. Big cities (and small) have rats, mice, etc. Get over it and enjoy your trip and the town. So long as you don't find one in your hotel room, you should be fine!