Giant Rats and Super Rats – Do They Exist?

Over the past couple of years, we often read news about people spotting giant rats in their homes and business premises as well as tales of inexterminable super rats. With all the media hypes around these new “breed” of rats, read on to find out if they exist or are they just another myth.

Super Rats

The whole notion of super rats was developed through an idea that some species of rats have developed a resistance to the bait laid out by both homeowners and professional pest controllers. These uncanny assumptions arose when rats showed slow reception towards the baits.

The main cause that led to the resistance is not due to ineffective baits but rather from incorrect bait placement, poor pest control technique and rats’ natural instinct that play a huge part in making rats partially susceptible to the bait.

• Rats are hesitant creatures, they often feed on the same source and learn food preference from others.
• Unlike human, rats can’t vomit and tend to lick new food/bait before consuming it to test if it is safe to eat.
• Rats are more cautious of the new and unknown by nature. Once they overcome the shyness, they will soon feast on the bait.

Do Super Rats Exist?

Yes, however these ‘super rats’ are not unstoppable. Correct use of bait by professional pest control service provider with proper proofing can deny rats the entry to your premises.

Giant Rats

Giant rats are usually found in highly populated areas. As markets, shops and restaurants are commonly available in high density areas, they provide unlimited supply of food not only within their premises but also the food they dispose at the end of the day.

According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), diet is the key to larger rats. The majority of the food disposed in city areas offer rats steady meals that contain high sugars and fats. As a result, rats gained weight, reproduce at a higher rate and live a longer life span.

Do Giant Rats Exist?

In a way yes, but this is not a new breed of rodent. Like humans, rats also come in different sizes. When the environment permits, rats can grow to the size of a cat, becoming more aggressive and fearless towards humans. Living in close proximity with humans, they pose serious harm to human health, welfare and the economy as they spread diseases such as Leptospirosis.

In Kuala Lumpur, the City Council’s Pest Control unit shared that an alarming total of 54,370 of rats were caught in 2014. From January to May 2015, the numbers grew +10% with 13,294 killed compared the same period last year.

As the annual monsoon season is here again, the risk of a Leptospirosis outbreak looms. Check out our proactive tips on keeping rats away from your home or speak to our pest control experts now at 1300 881 911 to find out how we can protect your home and family from rats invasion.

For more fun facts on Super and Giant rats, do download the infographics here.