Super Rat Invasion

In an example of evolution in action, scientists have discovered a “super rat” gene which makes the rodents resistant to all poisons available on the market.

Professor Robert Smith, the dean of applied science at the University of Huddersfield and nothing to do with Goth rockers The Cure, has been experimenting on rats caught in and around Swindon, Wiltshire. In recent months there has been a 500% increase in the rat population in Swindon, and Professor Smith says he knows why.

“Natural selection means that when you have a rat population in your town, poison will kill the ones that aren’t resistant, the ones that survive may have the gene, they then have babies who can receive the gene themselves,” he said.

“There are mutations and changes in their DNA that alter the ability of rats to deal with these poisons.[quote]

“This is the same gene that was found in Hampshire and Berkshire, it appears to be moving west and has now been located in Swindon and Bristol.

“That is a resilient gene, and although it is in Swindon it doesn’t mean that all Swindon rats have it.

“But it is a warning of things to come.

“There are large parts of Hampshire which are infested where pest controllers and home owners use modern poison and just can’t control rats.

“I have been contacted by exterminators who really know what they are doing that have to use guns and traps.

“But that is not good enough if rat levels get to infestation proportions and you are trying to get the problem under control.”

The Morningstarr*s advice? Buy a cat.

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