MEANWHILE, RATS | M6 | 66 minutes

It’s a city dweller that most people would like to see the back of: the rat. Driven out of the sewers by floods and construction work, the animal has shifted territory and is becoming more visible. They say that Paris has four million rats: double the number of residents. In the suburbs the rodent has also gained ground and is even attacking vehicles, chewing car tyres and fittings in parking lots at night. With no recourse, residents are up in arms. Despite vermin control campaigns in residential blocks and public spaces, nothing seems to halt the all-conquering march of the rats. In Marseille also, alarm bells are ringing. There too, they have twice as many rats as people. So what can be done? In the 17^tharrondissement in Paris, they decided to take matters into their own hands: volunteer rat patrols scour the neighbourhood to eliminate the rodent. But apart from the nuisance and material damage, the proliferation of rats in the city is a real health bomb. Leptospirosis, salmonella, toxoplasmosis… rats carry a multitude of diseases.  Salmonella alone accounts for 30% of gastro-enteritis cases in France. Professional rat-catchers, scientist or volunteer rodent rangers. From Paris, to Marseille, to Lyon, they are on the war path.