Rats, some the size of a cat, becoming a problem in UK neighborhood

USA Today

a day ago

A rat the size of a cat was found inside a home in the United Kingdom, and local representatives say the animal is part of a growing problem in the area.
David Taylor and Stephen Martin are representatives for the Eston Ward in North Yorkshire, England, on the south bank of the River Tees. The pair shared an image of the large rat on July 28.
'It's almost the size of a small cat. And it's not a one-off,' the pair wrote in a Facebook post. 'Rats are being spotted more and more around our area.'
Rats have been seen in alleyways, around bins, on overgrown land, inside homes, and sometimes, even crossing the street, the representatives wrote online.
In another post, the pair called the animal the 'Normanby rat.'
USA TODAY has reached out to Taylor and Martin more information.
Push for government to fund pest control, clean up community
Taylor and Martin said the council for their area, Redcar & Cleveland Council, no longer handles domestic rat infestations. They offer advice, the pair said, but residents have to pay privately to handle pest control issues such as rats.
'As your local councillors, we're calling on the Council administration to take this seriously, the people on the ground who do work extremely hard but we need this all round the borough,' they wrote.
The two also pushed for a full vermin survey and treatment plan across the borough, funding to handle the infestations, and collaborations among businesses, landlords, and affordable housing providers.
'We make no apologies for acting on behalf of residents,' they wrote. 'As your Eston and Normanby councillors, we raised the alarm because people were genuinely concerned.'
'Time to get rid of the RATS'
According to the councillors, there was a meeting with the council's vermin control officer, who said social housing providers and the water board will get together to create an action plan. Social housing providers have also said they'd reintroduce pest control across the homes and land under their jurisdiction.
The councillors said while it's not the local government's fault that the rats are there, the government has failed to cut grass, address litter problems, and has failed to properly fund street maintenance.
'Finally, a genuine thank you to the hardworking, overstretched staff on the ground, who continue to do their best under difficult circumstances,' Martin and Taylor wrote. 'Time to get rid of the RATS.'
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [e-mail].