Overview

• A pest control operative captured a 56 cm brown rat inside a Normanby home at the end of July, and viral images of the specimen have heightened local concern.
• Councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin report oversized rats are increasingly spotted in alleyways, bins, urban vegetation and private residences across the district.
• Taylor and Martin have formally urged Redcar and Cleveland Council to launch an immediate, district-wide strategic pest control plan in collaboration with housing associations and utility providers.
• Current council policy covers direct pest removal only on public properties while offering advice to private homeowners, a practice residents and officials say is insufficient amid rising sightings.
• Experts warn brown rats can reach sexual maturity in three months, produce multiple litters annually and thrive in urban settings, raising significant public health and property damage risks.