In more than 20 years of pest control, I thought I’d seen it all. But when I saw the images of a 22-inch rat found in a house in Redcar earlier this month, even I was taken aback. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything quite like this.
But it’s not just a one-off – the rats are getting bigger, bolder and harder to deal with. And, thanks to the summer heatwaves we’ve just experienced, this winter, especially, will see an influx of these rodents, who have been feasting on discarded takeaways and overflowing bins. Also, warmer temperatures accelerate their breeding cycles dramatically, meaning bigger winter infestations.
