How big do rats get?

The average rat may weigh over a pound, but scientists have said that the giant species of this rodent may weigh over 175 pounds if they get an opportunity to be the dominant species. This may be the case if they are given the ecospace where larger animals are not living and the rats can dominate in the ecosystem with no natural predators. The giant rats were problematic many years ago when there were rats that reached up to two feet long that were terrorizing Hampshire, London and Liverpool. When the rat populations are not checked, they may damage homes and properties. Another problem is that the rats are becoming resistant to the pesticides and the poisonous agents available that have traditionally been used to kill them. The colonies are now moving from the countryside to the city since there is more food available. The experts say that such rats may continue to grow even larger and they will evolve when the right measures are not taken to keep them from accessing too much food.

The largest known rat species is the Gambian pouched rat, and it has reached up to the length of 3 feet. The average weight is between 3 to 4 pounds, but there are those that can weigh over 9 pounds. The pet rats may range from a size of 9 to 11 inches, and their long tails can add an extra 7-9 inches. In many cases, the male rats are larger compared to the females. The Gambian pouched rat may be kept as a pet, but the largest ones live in the wild.

The largest rats that have even been recorded are a species that were living in Southeast Asia, but they are now extinct. They are estimated to have weighed up to 12 pounds. There are now many giant rats that are being spotted around domestic areas, and many people are concerned. Wildlife and humans have coexisted since the dawn of time. There has been increased interaction between wild animals and people in the more recent times due to humans’ extensive development and encroachment on the natural habitats of numerous animals. This means it is more common for people to find wild animals such as raccoons, opossums, and deer on their property.

Wild animals are recognized to be quite negative and can carry hazardous diseases that can pose a risk to humans. The over-sized rats which may grow to reach up to two feet have already been found in Iran and Sweden and now in Birmingham and Liverpool. In these places rats may be as large as small cats. Another giant rat that made headlines was a 15 inch rat that was caught in a Swedish kitchen. It had gnawed its way through the wood and the cement. Even though people say that these rats are resistant to poison, the experts say that they just need a bigger dose of the lethal stuff to work. These rodents are getting bigger since they have access to more food waste that is found around the cities.

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