The 22-inch monster rat recently found in a human dwelling in Normandy, North York, speaks for itself. This alarming discovery illustrates the growing worldwide rat infestation. The Giant Rat of Normanby, a gigantic rat, represents the scary increase in rats. This increase is largely attributed to rising temperatures and the effects of urbanization. Experts are raising alarms that these animals greatly endanger public health, safety and infrastructure.
Rats can reproduce at an incredible rate, able to get pregnant every 25 days. Their amazing resilience allows them to survive on just a teaspoon of food per day. It is this extraordinary power that makes them so difficult to regulate. A typical rat’s lifespan is less than three years. They are extremely prolific, leading to urban plagues of cockroaches.
Rats are more than a nuisance. These microbes, which may include microbes that cause diseases such as salmonella and leptospirosis, make them potential vectors for nearly 50 zoonotic pathogens and parasites. In the United States alone, rats are responsible for an estimated $27 billion in destruction. They blow up our infrastructure and poison our food supply.
The Great Giant Rat of Normanby Truly amazing. Unlike its rat cousins, which typically grow up to 6 to 11 inches long (not including the tail), this one is different. This New York discovery has raised alarm because it points to a bigger trend of growing rat size and colonies around the world.
From London to New York, cities around the globe are witnessing an alarming rise in pestilential rodents. New York City is home to an estimated 3 million rats. All the while, Washington D.C. has been hit with a staggering 390% surge in its rat population. San Francisco recently announced a 300% increase, and Toronto has seen an increase of 186%! And as cities spread out and climate change makes other habitats less livable, experts expect the rat population to keep increasing.
“It is a growing problem.” – David Taylor
In response to this crisis, control strategies have focused on poisoning, trapping, or starving these rats. Creative solutions are being tested. Innovative strategies are being tested, including using rat contraceptives to humanely reduce populations.
Rats truly make the most incredible nomads. At least two of them are known to travel 4,000 kilometers in search of food and home! It’s this sense of adaptability that has turned them into a city planner and pest control professional’s worst nightmare.