Edinburgh woman tells of horror after rats spotted in Lochend Park

The rodents could be seen scampering around near the water’s edge.

A woman has spoken of her horror after filming rats at an Edinburgh beauty spot while out walking her dog.

The video, which was taken at 7pm on Friday, July 24, shows two large rodents scurrying around near the railings by the edge of the water in Lochend Park.

“Rats are a huge problem in the park,” the woman, who asked not to be named, told The Evening News.

The video, which was taken at 7pm on Friday, July 24, shows two large rodents scurrying around near the railings by the edge of the water in Lochend Park.

“That evening, someone had chucked stir fry for the birds,” she explained, “as well as orange peel - which of course the birds weren't interested in, so the rats were out scavenging.”

The rats, she said, were not wary of her presence at all.

“What shocks me the most is the rats aren't scared - they are extremely bold,” she explained.

“In the video the swan and duck interacted with one of the rats, which made me think they must be used to living alongside them.”

Lochend Park in Edinburgh is home to a wide variety of wildlife.

It is not the first time she has seen them in the park. She said last year she saw “literally hundreds of rats” scurrying across the paths.

“I'm not even exaggerating either, it was horrendous,” she added.

“I reported the problem to the council and I didn't return to the park until they had got the infestation under control.”

Now that the rats are back, she has concerns for the safety of her dog.

“I know that leptospirosis can be spread via rat urine and can kill dogs and leave people really ill,” she said, “that's what really worried me.”

“A lot of dogs walk in the park and families take their children there to watch the birds on the pond.

“Recently I've been back walking my dog there and each time I go I see more and more rats out in daylight. The problem is increasing rapidly again.

“There's old and young rats running on the paths and banks of the pond.”

She said she won't be returning to Lochend Park until the council gets the rodents “under control”.

“I won't risk mine or my dogs health,” she insisted.

“It's a big shame as the park itself is brilliant, has lovely views of Arthur's Seat and lots of wildlife.”

Commenting on the video, a Council spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the issue and our officers are visiting the site again tomorrow to make sure that we take care of this while protecting the safety of people visiting the site and other wildlife.”

A spokesperson for the Friends of Lochend Park told The Evening News that the rats were “exhibiting natural survival behaviours”.

“They can be flushed out by raised water levels,” he said, explaining why they might be seen at the edge of the pond.

“They are just like humans, and will obviously go for easy pickings food-wise.”

“They are seen just as often (maybe more so) at St Margaret’s Loch in Holyrood Park.

“They are animals that belong here, living wild,” he explained, “when we don’t interfere by feeding them!”

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