The UK has 150 million rats running lose. And they're all desperate to get into your home - that's according to a pest control expert. Ian Helands says that he's seen some 'the size of cats'. But no matter how big, if they decide they want to get inside your home, they will.
Experts like Ian are warning people to rat-proof their houses before the unpopular house guests invade. The explosion in UK rat numbers is causing chaos, with the highest ever number thought to be roaming the country, reports the Daily Star.
Ian warned: “I have had more call-outs than ever from homeowners who have heard a noise, looked down into their toilet only to find a giant rat. No-one is safe. Rats are excellent swimmers with bendy bones and can squeeze into the smallest of spaces. They can hold their breath for three minutes and tread water for three days, and they are coming up waste pipes.
“They’re cunning and getting bolder and bolder. Basically, if they want to get into your home, they will. This has increased by 25% each year over the Covid pandemic. People are scared and they should be. There are more rats than ever and they are taking over. I have seen some the size of cats.”
He said that the increase in numbers of people working from home means rats don't have as much food to eat in city centres – so they are coming into homes instead. Two weeks ago, the Daily Star reported how bin men were being attacked by rats.
Ian, who runs Sussex pest control business Pests Be Gone, continued: “There are ways of pest-proofing your home. You can get rat gates for water pipes – these used to be used in very rural areas, such as near canals, but now we are recommending them even in built-up housing areas."
