Sweden, land of 'ratzilla'

[Syt]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26764929?ocid=socialflow_facebook

Giant rat: Swedes agog at 'Ratzilla' in Stockholm



The appearance of a massive rat in a Stockholm family's kitchen has made headlines in Sweden, where it is being dubbed "Ratzilla".

Measuring 40cm (nearly 16in) plus tail, the creature terrified the family in Solna district.

Pest controllers finally killed the intruder using an oversized trap.

Even the family cat had refused to enter the kitchen while the giant rat was in residence, father Erik Korsas told BBC News.

It appears that it entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement and wood.

After devouring food leftovers under the sink, the creature feasted on a "Swedish smorgasbord" of waste in the bin, according to Mr Korsas.

The incident occurred three weeks ago and initially, after taking a few souvenir photos, the family thought no more about it.

But when they contacted Sweden's Home And Rent website to see if it was interested in the story, it rapidly scurried to the top of the country's news agenda after attracting the attention of reporters at newspapers including the English language The Local.

On Tuesday, the "mega rat" became the most shared item for popular Swedish daily Aftonbladet, according to a tweet by journalist Sven Nordenstam.

Social media rang with gasps of disbelief, disgust and amusement. "Can't even read the news because there's a story about a giant rat on it," wrote one person. "I'd be moving on out of there," wrote another.

Laughing incredulously, Mr Korsas told the BBC that one reporter had said he should have frozen the rat's carcass for posterity. "You do have big rats in London too, yes?" he asked.

Since the incident, the family and its cat - a Cornish Rex by the name of Enok - have not been bothered by rats of any size, Mr Korsas added.

Despite regular media speculation, there appears to be little evidence of rats getting bigger in developed countries.

However, scientists do believe they could eventually grow into the size of sheep, Dr Jan Zalasiewicz, of the University of Leicester in the UK, recently told the BBC.

That said, any significant change would be a long way off.

[Richard Hakluyt]

1D4 hpts

[Admiral Yi]

That's a big motherfucking rat.

[Queequeg]

I like rats. 

[Tamas]

God damn. It is tricky enough to catch mice that you could just trample or use a regular tiny trap. I bet something like this could take quite a few hits from a shovel, unless you manage a strong one with it's edge. 

[Monoriu]

I wonder if it has any offspring.  Or how many. 

[Caliga]

I like rats. 

[Razgovory]

I like rats. 

Yeah, but you like Russians.

[Malthus]

It appears that it entered the kitchen via a ventilation pipe, having gnawed its way through cement ...

Goddamn. 

[Syt]

Probably just shoddy craftsmanship as you'd expect from Swedes.

More seriously, in the 60s and 70s in Germany, at least, it was popular to use less cement and more sand to push down building costs and skim off extra earnings. Might be the same thing happened in Rat-House.

[jimmy olsen]

Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?

[Ed Anger]

I like rats. 

Yeah, but you like Russians.

And Chinese.
And Turks
And Persians
And unibrows
And <insert ethnic flavor of the day>

[Norgy]

Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?

Yes. And bring disease. Just like Swedes.

[katmai]

Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?

Yes. And bring disease. Just like Swedes.

oh and yet I get disparaged when blaming Swedes.

[Queequeg]

Aren't rats famous for being able to gnaw through anything?

Rodents have constantly growing teeth. That's why they gnaw at stuff. They are amazing animals.