AIBU to ask where has loads of rats?

[cretelover]

Inspired by another thread of places you have no desire to visit and a poster mentioned New York as having loads of rats, where have you travelled to that had loads of rodents? Except squirrels of course, they are exempted haha. And yes of course I know they are everywhere, but it's rare you see any day to day in the UK. I think! I am so so scared of them! That rat temple in India is the stuff of my nightmares.

I watched a documentary following a pest control team and I was . I started to close my loo lid after watching a rat crawl out of the loo and into the house. The pest control guy said it was a common entry point into the home so it's important to keep lid closed.

it's rare you see any day to day in the UK
Not in London.

My mum's garden as it's next to a churchyard. I put bird seed and bread out for them and watch them. I really love rats.

We had a meal once in a taverna on Rhodes, it was a lovely meal and afterwards the owner came and gave us some grapes from his garden. As we were talking to him a rat crawled up a pillar behind him and into the rafters of the thatched roof over the bar. I was speechless.

As a teacher, I have had rats in my classroom on two separate occasions.

Last saw one in my house a couple of weeks ago. Cat had brought it in - dead when I saw it but my god I cleaned the kitchen floor very throughly after that just in case. We have neighbours with chickens and bird feeders, and decking and sheds - not a good combination. They've eaten into our wormery before too.

I have lived in London for 12 years and only ever seen 1 rat, at Park Royal tube station! (It’s above ground). Regular little brown mice at underground stations.

Regularly see them In Our garden centre

Around Mac Donald’s/kfc and on the railroad tracks locally

I love rats too, have had pet ones in the past. Categorically never want them near me, the mice that infiltrated twice were bad enough. Felt terrible killing them but whar can you do.

My local park. There’s lots of water and they like that apparently. Sometimes see them running across the path between bushes 😷

They are everywhere. I'm terrified and constantly vigilant and there are lots about. I live in London.

I worked near China town in New York and would finish my shift at about 3.00am. The bins round there were heaving with rats. It was as though the rubbish was moving itself. One smacked right into my foot once too when I walked past.

Bromley high street. I was waiting for a friend on a bench at twilight and it was pretty quiet and they started popping out of the little gaps in the pavement where there are a few trees planted. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was quite amusing to watch them actually.

I also once saw a rat walking along carrying a massive slice of pizza bigger than itself. It looked very happy with its haul.

They are everywhere, is it everyone is within 2 metres of one or something like that.

Near local streams and rivers, which are counted as natural habitat and so pest control leave them be. That picture up thread was about the same size as one that lurked in our office car park , near the river. We were not allowed to kill them unless they came indoors 😳

Just out of interest, those of you have seen rats out and about minding their own business and feeding on the rubbish that humans lob away, and been scared or freaked out by seeing them- why? It is vanishingly unlikely they’re going to bother you at all, let alone do anything to hurt you.

Car park at Costco Trafford Park. Told them about it and they were quite shocked.

And I think it’s awful that anyone would think of killing them when seeing them in their natural habitat or in a park or whatever- they’ve got as much right to be there as anything else!

We live in Scotland and my brother lived with his gf in 2 different areas of glassgow in flats. He said there was always loads down by the bins, they used to hate going down there because sometimes they would jump out at you if they were startled.

I live in Edinburgh- someone photographed rats crawling along tree branches in the middle of the day near my house. Scared to walk there now in case one drops on my head 😱

Rio.

Old Rio floods quite quickly during heavy rain, when I was there it did rain heavily and there were rats everywhere escaping the water.

Michaelwood services on the M4 is known in my family as “Rat Services”. We stop at the naice Gloucester Services now.

Hamelin.

I once saw a, squirrel haul a whole pizza up a tree trunk, wish I'd had my phone camera ready.

In my bedroom when naughty cat drops one on my face.
Had several cats in my lifetime and current one is a prolific mouser, brings a dead animal in at least three times a week.
We live in suburbs no where near any food outlets, so I assume it’s true that you are never more than six feet from a rat.

Ugh. I hate rats.
Seen lots in the underground, round the recycling bins at supermarkets and worst of all on a visit to a very run down zoo/wildlife park. The rats far outnumbered any other animals there and we made a hasty exit!