Grim images show giant rats more than 20 INCHES long found near homes and schools as hunter warns of ‘creeping phenomenon’ of huge rodents in urban areas
Steve Bell has been hunting for 25 years but said the number of rats in built up areas is on the rise
THESE shocking images show the giant rats caught by a hunter who claims the "creeping phenomenon" of huge rodents is on the rise in towns and cities.
Rat catcher Steve Bell has been hunting for 25 years but said he has been struck by the number of rats in built up areas recently.
The 39-year-old, who started hunting when he was just 15, told Sun Online: “There are more rats in urban areas than ever before.
"I've been looking into this for 25 years now and I've caught my five biggest rats in the last five years, and they're all in urban areas - that says something. It's something of a creeping phenomenon.
“My biggest was 21 inches a few years ago which was caught by my dog Alfie. I've had others at 18 and 19 inches long too.
“My Harris Hawk Sky caught one just over 19 inches last week fairly close to a housing estate and school in County Durham.”
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He added: “One of the giant ones was in my garden of all places.
“I saw my dog shaking something around.
“It was huge, massive.”
But Steve, who works in a chemical factory, doesn’t think super rats are on the rise.
He added: “Big rats are very rare and I consider anything over 18 inches long to be genuinely big, most rats don't get to live long enough or have the genetics to grow freakishly big.
“It’s just a hobby but what I have noticed is that I am finding rats in more urban areas and the ones I have caught in the last five years have been the biggest.
“The length is what makes them freaky.
“I think it’s something to do with bin collection. People are putting their bins outside and they aren’t getting taken away immediately.”
Steve, who lives in Shildon, Durham, said: “I even won a big rat competition a few years ago.
“I’ve been hunting rats for years. I used to go out with the dogs but now I use a hawk.
“I do not go out with the intention of hunting rats – although I have done in the past.
“A few years ago a local kennel owner ran a competition to find the biggest rat. It was just a bit of fun but I came first and third."
The giant rodents have forced the gran-of-seven to keep her young grandchildren inside during the school holidays because they are now living under her shed.
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