Seagull feasts on rat in Oslo’s main shopping street

A seagull was spotted eating a dead rat in broad daylight on Karl Johans gate, Oslo’s busiest shopping street, on Monday afternoon, Dagbladet reports.

The unusual sighting occurred near the National Theatre, where a photographer captured the bird feeding on the rodent’s carcass. Zoologist Petter Bøckman of the Natural History Museum called the incident “quite unusual,” noting that while seagulls are omnivorous—consuming everything from waste to small animals and even other gull chicks—rats are not a common part of their diet.

“Rats are mostly active at night, so it’s rare for a seagull to catch one during the day,” Bøckman told the newspaper. “Their paths don’t cross often.”

Oslo’s rat population fluctuates seasonally, peaking in summer when discarded food and barbecue leftovers attract the rodents, before declining in winter. Bøckman estimated the city’s rat numbers could rival its human population.

Rats have long been a persistent issue in central Oslo, particularly around seasonal events like the Christmas market in Spikersuppa. Last November, viral footage of scurrying rats at the Jul i Vinterland market prompted outrage, with some dubbing it “Christmas in Ratland.” Market organizers responded by deploying rodenticide and hiring a dedicated cleanup crew, urging visitors to dispose of food waste in sealed containers.