Meet Kieran, a rat catcher from Yorkshire, England, who has been in the business since 2018, having dispatched at least 50,000 rodents during his tenure.
Recently, Kieran made headlines after snagging a rat larger than a Chihuahua, measuring a whopping 22 inches from nose to tail, which is nearly 56 centimeters.
What's more, he noted that the rats he typically catches are also unusually large, with lengths mostly around 46 centimeters.
In response, he issued a warning through the media, suggesting that rats in the UK are undergoing "mutations," with their numbers increasing, sizes expanding, and their fearlessness towards humans and pets growing by the day!
Is there such a thing as rats larger than dogs? Indeed, Kieran's warning isn't just alarmist talk. In the UK, reports of oversized rats have surfaced more than once. Here are a few notable examples:
This is a giant rat caught by a resident in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Here's another record from exterminator Terry Walker, who once caught a massive 48-centimeter rat.
But this one takes the cake: a rat measuring an astonishing 1.2 meters, captured by gas worker James Green.
The reason behind this colossal size? It's a Gambian pouched rat, a species naturally predisposed to grandeur and officially the largest known type of rat worldwide. Trained, these rodents can even be used for landmine detection.
Your average household rodent, if on the larger side, is typically just a brown rat.
According to the Daily Mail, a pest control company in London claims that since the pandemic began, the number of rats in British cities has been increasing, with an estimated 250 million rats in the UK now. Their population has been growing annually, with at least a 3% increase from 2021 to 2023.
With the rising rat population comes more conflicts with humans. Particularly around Christmas time, reports indicate a surge in calls for help to authorities due to rat infestations. In November and December last year, as well as January this year, there was a 115% increase in calls from people seeking assistance with rat problems. Many of these callers had gone on holiday during Christmas and returned to find their homes overrun by rats.
Reports describe homes being ransacked by the rodents: chocolates eaten from Christmas trees, wires chewed through, food packaging torn open in the kitchen, and cabinets bearing rat bite marks and droppings. In summary, returning homeowners found their houses in complete disarray compared to when they left!
Clusters of Rats on the Streets
Rats Digging Through Trash Bins
In the days leading up to Christmas, a string of rats was spotted near trash bins close to the church, with someone capturing footage of the rodents rummaging through takeout containers.
Unfazed by humans and undeterred by passing vehicles, they leisurely scoured the garbage bins for food.
Rats, known for their remarkable intelligence, have adapted to urban life through prolonged coexistence with humans, growing bolder and more cunning over time.
Kieran once encountered an exceptionally crafty rat that took a liking to his owner's abandoned vehicle. It would regularly visit the car to gnaw on wires, the trunk, seats...
In a bid to drive the rodent away, Kieran would move the car hundreds of meters every day.
But no matter where it was hidden, the rat would always find the car. Eventually, the vehicle was reduced to a mere shell, with anything chewable gnawed away.
Kieran suspects the rat used the car as a means to sharpen its teeth.
Keelan and His Canine Assistant
In China, why aren't there as many large rats as in the UK?
Let's be honest, rodent infestations are a global issue.
Take my situation, for example. I have two resident rats at home. I've tried sticky traps, rat traps, and even baited cages, but I've only caught the small one. The big one is incredibly clever and never falls for it. It's now an intermittent visitor. Occasionally, I see rats on the streets too.
However, unlike in the UK, the rats I see are only about 10 centimeters long (excluding the tail). They don't come out in groups and are quite scared of humans.
Many people might share my feeling that there don't seem to be as many rats around these days.
So, why are rats in the UK so big and numerous? Is it because foreign soil and water are more "nutritious"?
Officially, this is mainly attributed to inadequate garbage disposal (providing ample food) and poor maintenance of sewers (providing shelter).
In addition, other urban animals, such as foxes, have learned to rummage through trash cans and open food packaging, essentially providing a buffet for rats.
In terms of waste management, we do quite well.
The trash bins downstairs are emptied every day, so there's no garbage buildup to tempt rats. They don't just boldly appear in front of people; instead, they hide in places we can't see.
One crucial point is the diet: foreign foods are often high in protein and fat. Eating too much of this type of food can make people gain weight, and rats naturally follow suit.
In the end
Overall, when it comes to controlling rats, we're doing much better than some places abroad.
I think many countries abroad have a contradictory logic in dealing with the problem of animal overpopulation: they want to kill it kindly!
In 2023, Wales became the first place in the UK to ban the use of rat traps and glue traps to catch animals because they believed it was too cruel and caused too much suffering for the rats.
As an exterminator, Kieran prioritizes using his two beloved dogs to catch rats when choosing how to deal with them. He only resorts to traps as a second option and hardly ever uses poison.
When setting traps, Kieran prefers ones that swiftly end the rat's life, sparing them any prolonged suffering.
Kieran believes that although he's an exterminator, he respects rats immensely. He sees his job as merely controlling their numbers rather than engaging in slaughter!
However, his work still brings him various death threats and insults, some of which even target his 4-year-old daughter.
One can only say, this job is just too tough!
Perhaps, like in Paris, cohabiting with rats might indeed be the best solution!
