Funchal Notícias has been highlighting the annual urban pest issues affecting Funchal, with pigeons and rodents invading public areas.
Businesses and citizens have voiced complaints about these animals in outdoor seating areas and green spaces. The Funchal Municipal Council urges the public not to feed animals in the streets, but the problem persists, with control and monitoring methods deemed insufficient.
Rodents, in particular, emerge from gardens and flowerbeds, approaching dining areas. Despite deratting campaigns and warning signs, the effectiveness of poisons is questioned, suggesting a need for new strategies and a structured public health plan. Inadequate urban sanitation, waste accumulation, and poor maintenance of underground infrastructure, such as clogged gutters, contribute to the proliferation of these pests, impacting the city's tourism image and quality of life.
