A new breed of 'super rodents' in the UK could be posing a threat to people's heath, experts have claimed.
In the last two decades, nearly all the mice and rats in the UK have become resistant to a common type of poison, reports the Mirror. Some 95 per cent of house mice - and 78 per cent of rats - have developed genes that mean they can withstand poisons known as anticoagulant rodenticides.
These substances typically eradicate mice and rats by preventing their blood from clotting. Scientists who have spent 20 years studying rats and mice found the same gene in creatures all over the country.
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Pest expert Dr Alan Buckle said the development may be a “threat to human and animal health”.
The expert added: "Continued use of anticoagulant rodenticides against resistant rats or mice has serious downsides.
“These include incomplete control of the rodents, which leads to threats to human and animal health, a faster spread of surviving resistant rodents and long-term survival of resistant pests that carry poison residues that could then be eaten by predators.”
At the moment, the UK is currently home to approximately five million mice and eight million rats in total.
The largest common mouse - the yellow neck - can grow up to four inches in length. The biggest brown rats can measure at up to 16 inches in length in total.
Earlier, Edinburgh Live reported that one local resident captured what looked like a surprisingly large rat the size of a small cat up a tree.
George Kelsey took the picture on January 3 of the rather large cheeky chap as he was possibly out scavenging for food.
The rodent looks to just be minding his own business as he balances perfectly off of a branch in the Balgreen area of Edinburgh.
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