UK rat population surges as rodents grow to 20 inches amid food waste boom

26 August 2025 , 17:45

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UK rat population surges as rodents grow to 20 inches amid food waste boom

According to experts, we are observing an increase in rodents, and they are becoming larger due to greater access to food waste. 

Kieran Sampler, who operates VermiCure Pest Control and founded the Yorkshire Rat Pack—a Facebook group with 114,000 followers, mentioned they are frequently capturing rats that are 20 inches and longer.

Mr. Sampler told the Telegraph: “There is significantly more waste now compared to 20 years ago. There are more takeaways, resulting in more half-eaten food.

"Additionally, there are many more high-rise apartments with shared bin areas, which leads to an increase in rats."

Alarming footage revealed numerous rodents scurrying up the building’s internal pipework and into the walls of the 12 flats at Crystal Court in Hackney.

Toby Bacon, a pest controller for Essex-based Town and Country Pests, described the footage as “one of the worst cases” he had ever seen.

Current estimates indicate the UK rat population is approximately 250 million. Some carry diseases like Weil’s disease, which can be transmitted to humans.

James Smith