Brit park dubbed Ratland as swarms of vermin storm outside the place youngsters ‘aren’t secure’

The historic Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow has been taken over by a swarm of pesky rodents, leading to the once-idyllic spot being dubbed Ratland by distressed locals.

One resident, Anna, captured chilling footage showing a horde of around 40 rats munching on bird feed left near a duck pond within the posh neighbourhood. The video shows the vermin feasting alongside ducks, leaving Anna to feel uneasy about bringing her young daughter to their favourite Cyprus duck pond spot in the park.

She expressed her concerns: “I think when we first came there was a lady with gentleman holding back their dog who tried to jump over the fence. I think then around 20 ran away and after that another 20 joined the meal with the ducks.

“There were many more running around them. I have a toddler and it’s her favourite spot in the park to watch ducks in wildlife. I don’t feel safe.”

Anna has seen an alarming increase in rodents every time she visits, which has prompted her to regularly refer to the area as Ratland.

She noted the severity of the situation: “We see rats every time across the enclosed dog play area. We call that area Ratland,” reports the Daily Record.

“There are usually 1-5 max, but today is the worst we ever seen. As you can see there is some grain or bread crumbs. People don’t think and it attracts even more.

“No one is doing anything to fix the problem, we see rats every time we visit the park, unfortunately. The park is not very safe and I don’t want to think how many rats run on playground during the night because there is always food left or bins overflowing.”

Glasgow Live had previously shone a spotlight on the city’s rodent issues, with locals frequently submitting footage of their unwanted encounters. Revealed in October through Glasgow Live, stats from between 2019 and 2023 highlighted a staggering 45% surge in rodent alerts to the council.

Despite a fall in mouse reports, from 4,222 to 3,413, the rat populace has alarmingly jumped from 6,170 to a whopping 8,959, alongside a modest uptick in other nuisances like cockroaches, escalating from 183 to 186. A Freedom of Information request unveiled that between 2022 and 2023, rat complaints soared, constituting 70% of all pest-related issues reported to Glasgow City Council last year.

In response, Glasgow City Council stated: “Rats are unfortunately a fact of life in large urban areas and Glasgow’s experience fits with other cities across the UK. It’s believed the COVID lockdown prompted a significant change in behaviour with rats moving into more residential areas, where they have become visible.

“There are other environmental factors that may contribute to these figures such as milder winters that allow rats to survive for longer and older infrastructure that can allow easier access for pests. Rats are always in search of food and somewhere to nest.

“Householders therefore have a vital role in deterring the presence of rats by ensuring food waste is properly contained, bin courts are kept in good order and food intended for birds and other wildlife is regularly cleared away.

“Property owners are also responsible for ‘proofing’ their buildings to prevent rats from accessing the property through, for example, broken pipes or gaps in stonework. The council offers a pest control service for domestic premises only and householders are free to employ private contractors if they wish.

“Commercial operators must employ a private contractor if required. In a city of over 300,000 homes, thankfully only a very small percentage of properties are affected by rats at any one time.”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.