NEED TO KNOW
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A 22-inch rat was discovered inside a home in England
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Eston Ward Councilors David Taylor and Stephen Martin shared a photo of the alarming discovery on Facebook on July 28
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“It’s not a one-off,” they said, comparing it to a small cat
A 22-inch rat was found at a residence in England.
Eston Ward Councilors David Taylor and Stephen Martin posted about the alarming discovery, made in a neighborhood in North Yorkshire, on Facebook on July 28, writing that the “massive” rodent was “over 22 inches long from nose to tail” and was discovered by a pest control worker.
“It’s almost the size of a small cat. And it’s not a one-off,” they continued, calling the situation “a growing problem.”
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“The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get. We need action — not just advice,” they concluded.
The post also included a photo of the enormous rodent, which could be seen inside a large transparent plastic bag.
In an Aug. 3 update, they stated that this is not the first time their area has experienced a rodent problem, noting that effective actions were taken “two years” ago.
However, “now, the rats are back, and in even greater numbers,” they wrote.
They also shared a photo of “rat holes” in a local community.
David Taylor and Stephen Martin – Eston Ward Councillors/Facebook
Holes created by rats in a yard in Northern England
In another follow-up shared the same day, the representatives said that the photo of the giant rat, along with the initial post, had made “national headlines,” and that they were hopeful the attention would create forward momentum on resolving the issue.
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PEOPLE reached out to the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the North Yorkshire council which oversees the districts affected by the alleged rat problem, for comment on Sunday, Aug. 3, but did not receive an immediate response.
The U.K.’s brown rat is an “incredibly adaptable” animal and can be found “almost everywhere” in the country, according to the Wildlife Trust.
They are particularly common around towns and cities and dig their own burrows.
A female brown rat can begin reproducing at around 3 months old, and has an average of five litters a year, each with up to 12 young, making them “famously good breeders,” per the organization.
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