MELBOURNE is in the midst of an unprecedented invasion by giant rats.

The City of Melbourne admits its baiting program has failed to control a huge population of brown rats.

And Flagstaff Gardens, a hot spot because of its proximity to railway tunnels and stormwater pipes, has been all but overrun by the vermin.

There are pleas for visitors not to feed the park’s possums, which attract rats.

Exopest pest control company founder Simon Dixon said the city’s rat numbers were unprecedented for the time of year.

At night, scores of the rodents, some more than 30cm long, appear in the park.

They are often seen scurrying around and stealing food scraps from the mouths and claws of possums, ignoring the poison bait.

Mr Dixon said there had been a particularly high number of calls for extermination services from hotels, restaurants and bars in the CBD.

“We’ve definitely had a much higher call rate for ­rodents all around the inner city for this time of year,” he said.

Damien Vella, of West Melbourne, said he had seen giant brown rats in the Queen Victoria Market area.

The Herald Sun understands that food staff at the Queen Victoria Market are noticing an increase in rat ­activity and have set up in ­excess of 100 baiting stations to deal with the problem.

Hotel staff living and working near the gardens were reluctant to comment for fear of harming business.

West Melbourne local Paul Rutherford, who regularly visits the gardens at night to watch the possums, was shocked by the sheer number of rats lurking on the lawns.

“They’re big, and I’ve never noticed so many before in the 10 years I’ve lived here. There are just heaps of them,” Mr Rutherford said.

Brown rats like the ones seen in the Flagstaff Gardens can exceed 30cm and weigh several hundred grams.

According to the Department of Health website, they can also become carriers of deadly germs and can spread dangerous diseases by entering homes

Edited Article and picture from Herald Sun (6 January 2015)

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