MIRROR
Britons have been warned to be on the lookout for rats in their home following a spate of flooding and delayed bin collections.
The British Pest Control Association said it has seen a 115% increase in people looking for advice on controlling rats in the last 90 days. It is estimated that there could be as many as 250 million rats in the UK – and winter weatheris driving millions of these vermin indoors.
Natalie Bungay, BPCA technical manager, said: “It’s common to see an increase in rat infestations during the winter period, as rats and mice are on the hunt for warm, dry shelter with access to a food source. Disruption to bin collections over the festive period can also be a factor, as overflowing wheelie bins and black bags full of rubbish are basically a buffet for pests.”
Less frequent refuse collections can lead to foxes ripping overflowing bins apart, releasing the contents. This in turn encourages rats to come out of sewers to eat. Meanwhile, flooding, such as that recently caused by Storm Henk, has driven the pests from their underground nests and into buildings as they look for dry places to live…
