Rat out of hell... 21-inch beast is biggest caught
It’s thought to be the biggest member of Britain’s rat pack.
Professional pest controller terry Walker has caught a 21in long rodent, which is believed to be the largest rat caught in the UK.
Mr Walker, 53, was working with his dog Max when they trapped the enormous creature behind shops in Bournemouth, Dorset.
the rat ran from underneath rubbish – straight into the jaws of Max, a Manchester terrier/pinscher cross.
Mr Walker, who had previously caught a 19-inch specimen that had been a record, said his latest catch weighed 650g – 1lb 7oz – around twice as much as a normal rat.
He added: ‘I found this one at the back of a property in Bournemouth, it’s a bit of a troubled spot.
‘there are lots of vacant properties and commercial kitchens, it’s a very industrious area.
‘I had my dog Max with me, he’s good at sniffing out the source of entry at properties.
‘I was clearing some debris and this rat bolted out of it. Max reacted very quickly and grabbed hold of it and shook it, killing it.
‘I decided to get the tape measure out and it was 21 inches – the biggest I’ve ever caught.’
He added: ‘the weight of it was absolutely unbelievable. the averit, age rat weighs about 350g. this was easily 650g.’
Mr Walker said the previous record for a rat was 20in.
He warned the animals are getting bigger because of the amount of waste being thrown away and he believes it is only a matter of time before a 2ft-long beast is found.
He said: ‘there’s no doubt about I think there are definitely 2ft long rats in the UK.
‘It’s just a matter of time until someone catches one. If you go back a few years ago the average length was maybe 14 inches, but they are definitely getting bigger.
‘I caught a 19 inches one last year and another guy caught one that was 20 inches and this is 21 inches. to my knowledge, those are the three biggest people have actually recorded with a tape measure.
‘Lots of people say they’ve seen one but unless you have the proof, who knows.
‘I think it’s because we are creating more waste, our society is getting more obese and the type of waste we are throwing away is fattier. that’s what the rats are feeding on so they are getting bigger too.
‘I don’t think it helps that a lot of councils have changed to fortnightly bin collections.
‘there’s all sorts of accumulative reasons.
‘Most of my work now is rats and it’s growing year on year.’
‘It bolted out of the debris’