Reports of ravenous rats on the rise

A rat emerges from rubbish bag dumped on a bin near Sandhaven beach in South Shields (June 2024)

Residents fear their area is being overrun by rats, with reports of the rodents rising significantly.

Figures from South Tyneside Council show an increase in rat sightings of nearly 50% in the last year.

Some people believe a build-up of rubbish during a recently-ended strike by refuse workers, which saw bin collections disrupted for eight months, could be a factor.

But the local authority said there was a range possible explanations including weather conditions and available food supply.

Experts also warn that a spike in sightings does not necessarily correspond to a rise in actual numbers.

Paul Gowland, from Cobra North East Pest Control, said: "I can understand there's probably been more calls to pest control in the past few months, but I don't think that means there's been an explosion in the rat population.

"There's been more waste going around and rats will take the opportunity to take advantage of the free food.

"People are probably seeing them more."

Ged Needham said one of the rats he caught was about 18in (46cm) long

Ged Needham, known to his Jarrow neighbours as "the rat catcher", said: "I’ve lived here 43 and half years, I’ve never known so many rats in this area.

"I’ve caught more than 65 in my garden alone."

He said he felt the strike had a part to play in the increase in sightings and he had been shocked by the size of some rats, with one he caught measuring 18in (46cm) long.

Jade Young, who lives not far from Ged, said: "They are all over. I've seen at least 30.

"My cat brought in about five in the last two months.

"The railway lines may be a reason, but the rubbish everywhere certainly hasn't helped."

'It's awful'

Another resident, Kelly Dagg, who believes uncollected rubbish is to blame, said it had "become normal" to see rats on her street.

"It’s been awful. I cannot go in the garden, I don't want to put my washing out.

"I don't want to open the back door in case they come in. I've got kids here.

“My dogs have caught 11 in the last two months in my garden.

"I've had pest control out, they’ve put poison out but it's done nothing."

Figures from South Tyneside Council showed there were 787 rat reports between June 2022 and May 2023, but 1,155 for the same period a year later.

A spokesperson said: "The period of industrial action has been without a doubt a difficult and challenging period for all and we continue to work hard to reset the service, get waste collection patterns back to normal and clean up the borough.

"Given that regular collections have resumed, we wouldn't expect additional household waste bags to be left lying around.

"Household waste poses a higher risk of attracting vermin."

But the spokesman said a range of factors could have lead to increased sightings, including flooding, ageing drainage networks, greater food supply, litter, better available shelter, a milder climate and reduced sewer baiting.

Similarly high figures were reported in 2020/21, with that year seeing the largest numbers the local authority had on record.

The eight-month strike by refuse workers in the borough ended in July.

In a statement, the GMB union said: "Industrial action ended two months ago. These sightings can’t reasonably be connected to the dispute.

"Wherever residents see anything concerning they should flag this to their local council team."