Authorities in Brussels are considering using ferrets to tackle the city's longstanding issue with rats.

The rodents have become a major problem in the Belgian capital, prompting the council to set up a rat task force.

Under the proposals, a professional rat catcher would use trained ferrets to hunt out the animals and chase them towards traps.

"Since the rat is a natural prey for the ferret, the ferret is able to drive the rats out of their hiding places and bring them closer to traps," a spokesperson for Anas Ben Adelmoumen, the councillor in charge of public cleanliness, said.

Ferrets have already been used in some instances in Brussels, the spokesperson said, and now the council is proposing extending the method across the city. A decision on their use is expected in the coming months.

One district, Etterbeek, has been using ferrets for some time with positive results. Rats that manage to escape the traps are usually scared off by the scent of the ferrets, allowing an area to be clear of rodents for several months.

Brussels has seen its brown rat population almost double in the last 10 years, according to the Brussels Times.

It is thought to be down to milder winters, which make ideal mating conditions. The popularity of compost bins is also thought to have boosted the city's rat numbers.

Since January, the rat task force says it has carried out more than 600 "interventions" in people's homes.

It has called on residents to contact the council as soon as they see the signs of a rat infestation. It has also boosted its budget by 20% to a total of 65,000 euros (£56,332, $75,766) and invested in smart traps to capture the animals.

Source : BBC