Startled Scots Binmen Film Rat 'The Size of a Cat' Scuttering Around City Estate
A Rat "The Size of a Cat" Has Left Binmen Startled in Glasgow. Video Footage Taken by the Cleansing Staff Shows the Sizable Rodent Waddling Past the Worker's...
A rat "the size of a cat" has left binmen startled in Glasgow.
Video footage taken by the cleansing staff shows the sizable rodent waddling past the worker's feet in Possilpark at the weekend. In the clip, an employee can be heard crying out at the size of the creature as it scuttled past their feet.
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It’s one of three videos taken from the weekend which show rats scurrying in and out of the bins before running off. And it is just the latest concern over the apparently growing size of the city's rat problem.
Recent weeks have seen reports of rats filmed in children's playparks - even on a child's slide - and, as reported by Glasgow Live, one resident claimed up to 20 giant rats had invaded her garden. Glasgow City Council cleansing chiefs say the best way to deter rat infestations is to dispose of food waste correctly in the designated food bin.
One member of staff, who does not wish to be named and helped to film the video, says the workers are worried about catching a disease off the rodents and taking it home to their family.
He said: “Working in the Possil area we have seen a huge increase in rats over the years and more so in the last year the number of rat sightings are picking up. There are rats running out the bottom of bins, bags lying at the side [of the pavement] who knows what is in them.
“Rats carry disease so how can the council expect us to go and work in an environment like that. You could take a disease back to your family and it is just not acceptable anymore and we can’t accept it.”
The local authority is encouraging staff to report any sightings of rats to allow the public health team to step in.
A spokesperson for the council said: “To protect their health and safety, staff are expected to report rat infestations that they encounter so our public health team can intervene. We will continue to monitor the area and will respond appropriately as required.
“Rats are always searching for sources of food. Disposing of food waste in a bin is the best way of deterring rats at specific locations.”
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James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
