Overflowing bins and climate change: Why might rats be getting bigger in the UK?
Three reasons why rats are getting bigger in the UK
- Rats in the UK are reportedly growing larger, with a supersized 22-inch rat recently captured in the Normanby area of Redcar and Cleveland, highlighting the trend.
- Experts suggest the increase in size is primarily due to an abundance of high-calorie food from overflowing bins, food waste and milder winters, allowing rats to live longer.
- Other contributing factors include weak sewer infrastructure and increasing resistance to common rodenticides.
- Rats are highly adaptable creatures, evolving quickly to consume human junk food, with some populations showing changes in skull and teeth structure.
- Pest control experts and ecologists confirm that well-fed, mature adult rats can reach significant sizes, thriving in conditions where food is plentiful and environmental pressures are reduced.