If you find a wild animal in distress, please call 144 to save it.
Nuisance from plants and animals
Invasive alien species are plants and animals that do not belong in the Netherlands. They can spread rapidly because they often have no natural predators here. This can cause damage, nuisance or danger. They can also displace other plants and animals. The municipality of Apeldoorn is keeping some of these species under control. We need your help with this.
Which species are we talking about?
We cannot tackle all invasive alien species. That is why we focus on the species that cause the most damage. These are the priority species. We are actively tackling these types of issues. If the situation changes, we will update this list.
Priority species in Apeldoorn
These are the types we’re currently tackling:
- Wormwood ambrosia
- Asian knotweed
- Vinegar tree
- Heavenly Tree
- Marsh lantern
- Giant Balsam
- Giant hogweed
- Water Crassula
Please report this
Have you spotted any of these species? Please let us know via the Waarneming.nl’s warning system.
- You don’t need an account
- Your report is being checked
- We use this information to take action
If the species is not listed in the warning system (such as ragweed), please report it via the standard website of Waarneming.nl. You will need an account to do this.
Bees, bumblebees and wasps are beneficial insects. There are many different species. Most of them rarely, if ever, cause a nuisance. The information on this page will help you deal with the situation should they cause a nuisance after all.
Asian hornets
Nests of the Asian hornet must always be dealt with. It is important to check whether you are indeed dealing with an Asian hornet. You can read about how to recognise the Asian hornet and what to do if you find one on the website of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) or whether it Animal Pests Knowledge and Advice Centre (KAD).
You can report a sighting of an Asian hornet via the the waarneming.nl website.
Bees
If a nest located in a public building or in a public space is causing a nuisance, please contact Circulus.
If you find a swarm of bees in your garden or in the immediate vicinity in an accessible location, you can report this to a beekeeper via the website of the Apeldoorn-Ugchelen Beekeepers’ Association. A beekeeper will come to collect the swarm. As this is voluntary work, you may be asked to make a contribution towards the costs for the association’s funds.
Bumblebees
If you’re having problems with bumblebees, please visit the website of the Society for Field Biology. Here you’ll find all sorts of information about bumblebees and advice on what to do if you find a bumblebee nest.
Wasps
As a local authority, we only take action regarding wasp nests in public spaces if they pose a risk to public health.
You are responsible for any wasp nests in or around your home, and you can:
- contact Circulus
- contact the Wasp nest. You can also find plenty of information about wasps on the Wespenstichting website.
On the website of the KAD, Knowledge and Advice Centre Under ‘Pest Animals’, you will find photos of the burrow entrance and advice on prevention and control.
You can easily report this species via waarneming.nl, your report will help us to better map the borehole.
The local council is doing a great deal to combat oak processionary caterpillars. For example, by attracting birds and parasitic wasps. However, we cannot prevent everything. From May, June and July onwards, you may spot these particularly hairy caterpillars in oak trees. We remove these nests of caterpillars from the tree by sucking them up with a kind of ‘vacuum cleaner’.
What you can do yourself
If you spot a nest of oak processionary caterpillars in a tree and the tree doesn’t yet have a spot on it, then you can report. Do not touch the caterpillars and do not try to get rid of them yourself, to avoid any problems.
On private or commercial property, you must take action yourself. To avoid complaints, do not attempt to control the oak processionary caterpillar yourself; instead, call in a specialist company.
Further information that may be of help to you:
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What to do if you experience symptoms caused by the oak processionary caterpillar: thuisarts.nl
It is important for public health to prevent problems caused by rats and mice. Take a look at the tips on the website of Environment First on how to prevent pests.
Are you having a lot of trouble with rats or mice? If so, please contact Circulus.
The municipality of Apeldoorn does not control stone martens and can do little about the situation. Stone martens are protected by law. They are also beneficial, as they help to control rat and mouse populations.
Are you having problems with a stone marten? That can be a nuisance. You must not harm or kill a stone marten.
Only in serious situations, such as in a school or hospital, may the provincial authorities grant an exemption.
On the websites the Mammal Society and The Stone Marten Here you will find tips on how to prevent or reduce nuisance.
Birds are protected. The municipality of Apeldoorn does not remove birds’ nests or chase away birds that live here naturally, even if they cause a nuisance.
Nuisance caused by birds is most common in early spring. During this period, birds are looking for a place to live. The nuisance usually subsides of its own accord within a few days or weeks.
It is prohibited to disturb, catch or kill birds. You must also not damage or remove their nests. This is set out in the Environment Act.
A nest may only be removed in exceptional circumstances, for example if there is a risk to health or safety. This almost never happens.
For any questions, concerns or complaints regarding wolf conservation, compensation for livestock killed by wolves, and livestock protection measures, please contact the Province of Gelderland. They are the competent authority in this matter.
Further information on provincial policy and grants can be found on the the Province’s website. The Bij12 website contains information about the Reporting damage caused by a wolf or whether it reporting a sighting of a wolf.
- The sunfish is a strikingly coloured predatory fish native to North America. It reproduces rapidly and has a voracious appetite. It feeds on aquatic insects, amphibians and young fish. As a result, it poses a threat to the native flora and fauna.
Please report this
Can you see the sunfish? Please let us know via the Waarneming.nl’s warning system.
- You don’t need an account
- Your report is being checked
- We use this information to take action
Many people find cats a nuisance. This mainly concerns other people’s cats defecating in your garden. The local council has no rules regarding cats being allowed to roam freely or the cleaning up of cat faeces. This is because cats are allowed to roam freely in the Netherlands.
Here are the following tips and information:
Are you having problems with stray cats in your neighbourhood? Take a look at the the animal welfare organisation’s website what you can do.
To prevent cats from straying, it is important that you have your cat microchipped.