RAT OUT OF HELL
Warning after giant rodent the size of a dog spotted in Dublin canal
A GIANT super rodent the size of a family dog is on the loose and the public have been warned not to go near it.
A Coypu – which is up to a metre long and has bright orange teeth – has been spotted making its way along Dublin’s Royal Canal.
The species is originally from South America and can carry diseases harmful to humans.
Expert Colette O’flynn said: “It’s from the same family as a rat and is the size of a medium to large dog.”
THE public has been warned not to approach a giant super rodent that has been spotted prowling along the banks of a canal.
The rat-like creature – which is the size of a dog – is originally from South America and is believed to have escaped from a pet farm in Cork.
The Coypu has bright orange teeth, cylindrical tail, webbed back feet and measures about a metre long – and was spotted making its way along Dublin’s Royal Canal.
The large river rats can carry a number of serious diseases harmful to humans and animals.
However, it is not a meat eater preferring instead to feast on carrots and parsnips. Waterways Ireland has warned the public “not to approach engage, trap or harm these animals”.
It said their presence in Dublin raises concerns about their spread throughout Ireland’s rivers and canals.
Colette O’flynn, invasive species officer at National Biodiversity Data Centre, said: “It’s from the same family as a rat. It looks like an oversized rodent with a bulky head and body.
“It is large, it’s the same size as a medium to large dog.
“One of the most distinctive features are two yellow/orange front teeth normally on show.” Sightings have been reported near the Ashtown area of the canal near to Castleknock in Dublin.
It is regarded as a destructive invasive species and pest, posing a threat to agriculture, the stability of river banks and even coastal defences.
Colette told the Ryan Tubridy show on RTE Radio One: “It can become a very invasive species in Ireland. It can very badly damage and have an impact on numbers. It can eat crops, boring into river banks and carry diseases to animals and humans.
“We do need to get rid of them as soon as possible. If it looks unusual, any suspected sightings of a very large rodent, take a picture and report it. These are known to be quite vicious if threatened.”
Waterways Ireland said Coypu eradication programmes can cost several million euro.
The creatures are believed to have arrived in Ireland in 2014 and were more recently seen in Cork. A number were trapped by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in a tributary of the River Lee. ■ Have you seen this giant rat? Email your pics to news@irishmirror.ie or contact us on Facebook.
A GIANT super rodent has been spotted prowling along the banks of a canal.
While the creatures have been sighted in Cork, it’s a mystery how it ended up 150 miles away in Dublin. Did it swim all the way? Did it walk?
We rodent rule any of those theories out.