West You are in: Inside Out > West > Super-rats Have super-rats arrived in the region? Super-rats Scientists are warning that a new breed of poison resistant super-rats may have arrived in the West Country. Inside Out West arranged DNA tests on rats tails collected in both Bristol and Swindon. It's a rat fact - and you've been caught... The bubonic plague first arrived in England through Bristol, carried on the back of black rats. These days England has very few black rats, but plenty of brown rats. Rats can copulate in two seconds. A female rat has approximately five litters a year. Rats reach sexual maturity within 12 weeks, so two rats can produce 2,000 descendants in one year. Rats survive for about a year in the wild but pet rats can live for three years. A group of rats is called a mischief. A mischief can be up to sixty rats large. Brown rats can bite through wood and metal. The black rat's scientific name is Rattus Rattus; the brown rat is Rattus Norvegicus. Rats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt. 2008 is the Chinese year of the rat. Rats cannot vomit. A rat can last longer without water than a camel. It's said that rat-borne diseases have claimed more human lives than all the wars in history. The Boomtown Rats went to number one in the charts with "Rat Trap". Roland Rat is credited as the saviour of TV-AM - the only rat in history to join a sinking ship. The results have confirmed the presence of a gene that helps the rodents to become resistant to conventional poisons. Rats on the increase? Rats are born survivors - one pair can produce 2000 descendants in a year. So far we have fought them with poisons but the news that super-rats may already be here will force the authorities to rethink their strategy. There is some evidence that the rat population is on the increase. Super-rats could be increasing rat numbers. A survey of all the local councils in the West region revealed that three quarters of them have seen a rise in the number of rat call outs. There are many possible reasons - milder winters, abundant food in compost heaps and the increasing use of bird feeders - but now experts fear that the possible arrival of super-rats could also be a factor. Rubbish collection Swindon Borough Council recently introduced a fortnightly bin collection. Some residents say this isn’t frequent enough and believe the rubbish is another reason why rats have become such an issue Super-rats are resistant to poison. The council deny they’re struggling to get on top of the vermin problem. In fact, the number of call outs to deal with rat infestations in Swindon has decreased over the last three years, although the introduction of charges for treatment could be a factor. Scientists at the University of Huddersfield are studying the super-rat phenomenon. They say that when rats carrying the resistance gene breed, a quarter of their babies may be super-rats. Future problem The results of the tests on rats tails collected from Bristol and Swindon came as a big surprise. Professor Robert Smith: surprised by test results Professor Robert Smith says, "It’s the first time we’ve found this mutation that far west." In both Swindon and Bristol there are resistance genes which are likely to build up under selection with use of poisons and there may be a problem that’s building up for the future." But the scientists don't have a clear picture of how far the super-rats have infiltrated. Professor Smith admits, "Since the government stopped funding the monitoring of resistance we don’t really know. "All I can tell you is that there are parts of Hampshire where the genes we’re detecting here are very common and where there are real problems controlling rats." So it looks like the West, along with other areas, will be looking for new ways to control the rat population in the future. SEE ALSO West

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