Ten cities in Britain have seen rat numbers soar with the total population in the UK exceeding 150 million, figures show. London tops the count at 19.9 million, followed by Birmingham (2.4m), Leeds (1.7m), Glasgow (1.3m) and Sheffield (1.2m).
There are a million or more rats in Manchester (1.1m), Edinburgh (1.1m) and Liverpool (1m) with Bristol and Cardiff’s rat population at 950,000 and 760,000 respectively.
The figures from pest.co.uk led the pest control firm to declare that rats now outnumber people two to one for the first time. It put the rise down to abundant food waste and quieter city centres during the Covid lockdowns.
Mark Moseley, a candidate on The Apprentice 2023 and owner of pest control company PestGone Environmental, told Express.co.uk that numbers in urban areas have returned to levels last seen before COVID-19.
He explained that when food outlets closed during the pandemic, most city rats headed to the suburbs and rural areas in search of food. They stayed after restrictions were lifted, but those which remained in the inner cities have now bred and seen their numbers rise back to pre-pandemic levels.
Mark said: “The population has got back to normal now. They say there’s at least one rat for every square meter of sewer line in London. We get at least 10 rat jobs a day.”
The pest control expert said rats are also getting bigger as people now eat fattier foods. The rodents are feeding on wasted food and scraps, making them even larger. He said some rats have even grown to the size of cats.
Mr Moseley said there are several things people can do to deter rats and mice, including putting waste into bins with lids to stop the critters getting to food sources.
He said the trend to install toilets under stairs has also led to a surge in rats emerging from sewer lines under properties so he recommended installing a one-way valve which would allow waste to leave but prevent rats from using it as a route into a home.
If a rat or mouse does make it inside a property, Mark said it is important to remove access to food. He said: “Never have food in lower cupboards. Try and put them up high somewhere. And don’t leave food under the stairs.”
Mark said rats have an excellent sense of smell so will follow their noses and even chew through floorboards to get to food.
He also urged people not to leave fishing bait or cat or dog food in sheds and garages, adding: “People think if they have a cat they won’t have a problem, but not necessarily.”
Bird feeders should also have trays underneath them to stop crumbs falling to the ground and attracting rats and mice, according to the pest control expert. Compost bins can also act as a magnet so would be better if sealed.
The pest control expert, whose company cover most of London, warned that rats also spread diseases, including leptospirosis.
Also known as Weil’s disease, leptospirosis is an infection you can get from animals, soil or water. It is rare in the UK, according to the NHS.
Most people who get leptospirosis have no symptoms, or mild flu-like symptoms. Some people can get seriously ill though. Symptoms may include high temperature, headache, body aches and pain or tummy aches.
Mark said: “Rats are a big spreader of diseases. Leptospirosis is spread by rats. They travel in sewers. If you have a baby crawling on your kitchen floor and rats have been across it – it’s a big one.”
