Warnings for Brits as 2ft long rats that are immune to poisons invade homes – here’s what’s to blame
BRITS have been warned about giant 2ft long rats that are immune to poisons and invading homes.
The problem is thought to being down to the work from home culture which is causing household and businesses to miss bin collections.
Refuse lorries are unable to squeeze past the ever-growing lines of parked cars outside homes that are not moving during the week as people stay home.
Fears are growing it will cause a health hazard as disease-laden rats and scavenging seagulls are attracted to bins bulging with rotting waste.
The work from home culture has been blamed by Leeds City Council for a growing number of complaints about missed bin collections.
Cllr Mohammed Rafique told a scrutiny committee meeting cars being parked on streets all day made it harder for bin crews to access some areas.
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Mr Rafique, the Labour administration's executive member for environment, said: "There are more cars parked on our streets than ever before because more and more people are working from home.
"In the past, when people left their homes and went into the office, it was somewhat easier to navigate through some narrow, difficult streets.
"If you're the customer at the end of the day whose bin is missed, then it's not what you want to see."
Conservative councillor Paul Wadsworth said: "It's the most annoying thing when you pay your council tax and then you come home and your bin hasn't been collected."
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Pest extermination teams say they are getting an increasing number of calls from householders to deal with rats trying to sneak into their lofts, up drainpipes and through cracks in outside walls.
It's feared there are now as many as 200 million rats swarming over Britain.
If bins aren't emptied, it could see work-from-homers finding a rat suddenly sitting in the kitchen or bedroom.
And because rats can swim, they might even attempt to invade sewers and pop up in the toilet when the lid is lifted.
MONSTER MUTANTS
Many are said to be monster mutants up to 2ft long which are immune to shop-counter poisons and pose a serious health threat because they carry deadly diseases.
The rats are being driven from their tunnels and underground ‘dungeon’ nests by the stormy weather which is flooding parks, fields and gardens.
They're making a beeline for our centrally-heated houses, seeking weak points to gnaw their way in.
Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control said: "As soon as the temperature drops, rats look for somewhere warm to spend the winter.
"While most of us may associate rats with sewers and holes in the ground, brown rats are very agile climbers, and can be found in loft spaces.
"When you're up in the loft, there are a few simple things to look out for - nests, droppings, signs of gnawing, and greasy rub marks on joists.
"If any of these are spotted, then pest control experts should be called in to deal with the problem sustainably and efficiently.
What to do to prevent rats in your home
Inspect properties thoroughly and seal up any external gaps, holes or crevices that could provide rats with a way in.
Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood or debris.
Ensure doors and windows can be closed properly and that drain inspection covers are well maintained.
Keep bins well maintained with their lids closed, dispose of rubbish carefully and don't leave leftover food lying around. Compost heaps should be covered.
Areas around garden bird feeders should be kept clean and pet food bowls should not be left out overnight.
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"Pest specialists can use tools and technology to monitor and safely eliminate any rodent activity."
The British Pest Control Association says a typical home has more than a dozen potential entry points for rats, which can squeeze through gaps as little as half-an-inch wide.
A spokeswoman warned: "The first evidence of rats in a home is often noises under the floor, in the walls or loft as that's where most will head to once they're inside.
"Quite apart from the health risks, they'll foul water tanks and chew on wood or electrical wires which can cause a lot of damage and poses a hazard risk."
She said people should be doing all they can now to protect their homes with the onset of icy weather.
"They'll try to find some sort of dwelling and that could be lofts, garages or sheds.
"Our members report the number of calls to deal with infestations rises when the temperature drops.
"So it's important for homeowners to do as much as they can to ensure they're not among those affected."
IMMUNE TO CURRENT POISONS
Beastie boffins say the new breed of genetically-altered super rats are immune to available poisons and the UK numbers will top 200million unless an emergency plan is drawn up.
The mutants swarming across our towns, cities and countryside are twice as large as normal rats and cannot be killed with traditional substances.
There have been two 'generations' of poisons dealt out to rats - the first included warfarin and coumatetraly, the second contained difenacoum, brodifacoum, flocoumafen and bromadiolone.
But the rats have mutated and got far bigger and stronger, enabling them to growing increasingly resistant to both.
Pest controllers are now urging the approval of a third generation of much stronger poison to deal with the growing problem.
Genetic testing by Huddersfield University revealed that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons.
While the rats have been changing, we have been battling them using the same anticoagulant poisons since the 1950s.
Terrifyingly, researchers say the super rats could soon out-number humans three-to-one across Britain.
But rodent poisons are controversial because of the risks to children, pets and wildlife.
Rats are also hard to kill with poisons because they scavenge - they will eat a small bit of something and wait, and if they don't get sick, they continue.
The most potent rat poisons are currently for professional use only and cannot be sold across shop counters to the general public.
Reports of poison-resistant mutant rats were first made in the south of England in the 1990s and the problem has worsened in recent years.
The BPCA says the spread of the super rats has speeded up because most shop-bought remedies are now ineffective.
The rats are gleefully feasting on the supposedly toxic pellets, which has helped them grow bigger and stronger as well as build up their immunity.
The BCPA said: "The trouble is that people who try to treat problems themselves are likely to be making the problem worse.
"The rodents have become resistant and, in some cases, immune to off-the-shelf poisons to the point where they're actually feeding off the toxic pellets, which means their size and strength is increasing.
"Stronger rodenticides can be more effective, but most are subject to strict legislation and must only be used by professional pest controllers.
"So it has become very important to make sure infestations are treated by experts in the field."
The super rats often carry bugs which can be passed to humans, including Weil's disease, which can lead to jaundice and kidney failure.
The spokesman said: "Normal rats are being killed off by poison, so these resistant species are taking their place.
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"It's only natural that their numbers are expanding and there could be a significant risk to public health if their population is left unchecked.
"Rats must be dealt with by a professional pest controller who knows the area in question and their likely habitat, and knows how to treat any particular strain."
