For decades, setting traps and putting out poison did the trick when it came to getting rid of rats. But after years of city life, some rodents have begun to genetically mutate, developing a resistance to poison and a gift for outsmarting traps. These “super rats” are on the rise in metropolitan areas across the globe and they’re getting smarter, stronger, and larger in number every day.
On this episode of VICE INTL, VICE Japan sat down with a handful of experts studying these super rats to hear exactly how the rodents got so resilient, and find out what—if anything—can be done to get them under control.
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GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí of Kneecap perform on the West Holts stage during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Ki Price/WireImage) -
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