The company U. S. Steel Košice has an area of about 740 hectares and is surrounded by protective greenery, forest and agricultural lands. It is located in the vicinity of the protected bird area, and even extends into it and is adjacent to the Haništiansky forest, which belongs to the list of sites of Community importance NATURA 2000.

Despite the fact that the territory of our company is protected by fencing, which is related to property protection, we register a considerable number of unwanted animal visitors in some production facilities.

The most common is the appearance of cats, stray dogs, foxes and hares, but roe deer have also occurred. The current problem of this winter period is wild boars. In November last year, 22 wild boars were recorded in the premises of the Transport divisional plant.

Why are they undesirable? In addition to health risks associated with, for example, disease transmission, all animals also pose a safety risk in the form of a possible collision with motor vehicles. A special group consists of pigeons. They damage and degrade our products, which are then subject to complaints by customers. Their capture is entrusted to an external specialist in cooperation with the GM environment unit and the relevant operation.

Preventive measures include:

• regular mowing and landscaping to minimise suitable conditions for pests to live,
• a ban on importing, feeding, caring for and sheltering animals on the premises of U. S. Steel Košice;
• regular deratization and disinsection.

In case of sighting of stray animals, this fact should be reported to the Main Control Room, or to the immediate superior, and the observed animal should be located. Outside the supplier – an authorized external specialist – it is forbidden to touch or handle animals, cages and baits!