A new study has found that feral black rats in Australia are developing genetic resistance to widely used rat poisons. Researchers warn that this adaptation could make traditional pest control methods less effective.

Council of the City of Sydney

A recent study led by Edith Cowan University has revealed that feral black rats across major Australian cities are developing genetic mutations that make them resistant to common poisons. The research, which tested 191 rat samples from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane, found that nearly 54% carried the mutation, with Brisbane's sample group being the exception.

Experts believe that the widespread use of poisons has encouraged this resistance, as rats are highly adaptable and breed quickly. The study also noted that reintroducing native rat species can help displace the resistant black rats. Researchers advise the public to reduce food sources and habitats around homes to help control rodent populations.

Australian rats have developed a resistance to poisons

than 50 years in Australia, poisons have stopped rats in their tracks, but no more. The rats are now becoming resistant to the main poisons that people use. Feral black rats are getting stronger, genetically mutating, a fear now proven by Edith Cowan University. Rats are really adaptable and they breed really fast, so it's probably likely that our use has encouraged this resistance. The study across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane tested 191 rat tails, almost 54% had the genetic mutation, only Brisbane's small sample group was unchanged. There's a dominant species there, Rattus Tanizumi, which is also known as the Asian house rat, so it's probably been more recently introduced. Often caught on security cameras, it feels like rats are not only evolving, this one turns the camera around, but plaguing. They're not necessarily on the increase, it's just that this time of year they want to get in where it's warm. Making sure there's no nice little habitats for rodents around your house, there's no sources of food, like dog food and things like that left out. Reggie here is an introduced black rat, scientific name Rattus Rattus, the rat rat, and again it seems nature holds all the answers. A Sydney University study found reintroducing the native rat into Reggie's territory drove these black rats out of town. Even Reggie is a mutant. I don't like cockroaches, for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is they've eaten poor Reggie's ears. Ali Donaldson for 10 News First.

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