Boom in ‘16-inch’ MONSTER rats running riot & feasting on rubbish in UK as councils axe weekly bin collections

MONSTER rats measuring up to 16 inches have become an increasingly common sight on Britain’s streets. The oversized pests have been found feasting in rubbish bins after local councils reduced weekly waste collections. Paul Claydon, a pest expert from Essex, has never seen rats as big before Credit: Jam Press/Paul Claydon Monster rats are being spotted more and more on Britain’s streets, with some stretching as long as 16 inches Credit: Jam Press/Paul Claydon Pest controllers are witnessing an increase in call-outs this year as more and more people spot giant rats in their city centre. The rodents have survived traps, bait and pest control, foraging through an abundance of rubbish and thriving in the milder conditions. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Paul Claydon, the owner of Fast Track Pest Control in Essex, has described business as being “exceptionally busy” this year due to the rats, with the pest expert encountering rats reaching 40 centimetres long. “Normally, rat call-outs start to ease off through the summer, but this year the volume has stayed really high. “I’m seeing levels of rat work in summer that I’d usually associate with the peak winter periods,” he continued. According to Claydon, the rodents are managing to reach such an enormous size for a number of reasons, such as milder winters improving food availability and survival rates for the creatures. The size of the rats is also said to be provoked by the changing waste collection schedules in lots of different areas, with some councils moving to fortnightly pick-ups instead of weekly. Overflowing bins then become the perfect food source for rats, who feast on food waste, takeaway waste and fly-tipped boxes. Most read in The Sun Claydon thinks the rats are growing so big because of them feasting on overflowing bins Credit: Jam Press/Paul Claydon Rats can cause serious health and safety risks by carrying diseases and damaging buildings Credit: Jam Press/Paul Claydon Claydon continued to say: “Birmingham is a good example, where the bin strikes led to huge amounts of rubbish building up and reports of serious rat problems. “When you have overflowing bins, food waste, takeaway waste, fly-tipping, people feeding birds, compost bins and generally more food available around urban areas. “Add in building work, disturbed ground and properties with gaps, it’s no wonder they are thriving.” Rats can pose significant health and safety risks by carrying diseases, contaminating food and water, covering surfaces with waste and causing building damage by chewing through cables. The damage caused by the giant rats has hit local households as well, with Jemma and Sean Williams reportedly hearing pests scratching through their walls at night. The family had struggled to control the rats for over two years before they discovered they had made their way inside. Hotter temperatures and reduced waste collections have created the perfect storm for these 16-inch monster rats to breed, with more and more expected to be found in the future. Comment now