Rat Problem in Singapore: Is The Situation Getting Real?

Rats rats rats! They are everywhere. With the reported increase in rat population in many public places (Rats in Bukit Batok), are the rats in Singapore invading into the spaces of offices, shopping malls, supermarkets and even offices? How do these sneaky fellows get into the buildings and why are they so agile?

Singapore once again casts the news limelight on our little furry mates when they are spotted out and about in broad daylight! Recent rat episodes in shopping malls are captured on video and news spread quickly on social media with one of the videos shared over 5,000 times.The videos showing rats dropping out from the open overhead ceilings onto shoppers have garnered many shocking reactions from the public. Rentokil Pest Control explores the rat problem in Singapore and rat control with The New Paper publication.

Did you know? There are mainly 2 types of rats in Singapore. The Roof Rats are the ones sneaking into malls andthey are mainly black in colour which grows up to 22cm.

Click for more Rat Species information

Rats are sneaky and are most active at night. They are shy and timid, most of the times avoiding direct contact with humans. That is why most people would be shocked and be reeling in disbelief when they catch sight of rats in broad daylight. In one of the most recent cases of rats on video, the entire process of a rat’s rampage in a food retail chain during daytime operation hour is captured. Found hiding in a bottom shelf rack rummaging through the groceries, Mr Ratty is just going on about his usual day gnawing the packages when viola! He becomes an overnight Internet star.

With such high profile rat chase happening right in food retail chain, this is bound to get the attention of the local media, pest controllers and the general public. On the 2 June, 2016 The New Paper published a report on rats in Singapore whereby the National Environment Agency (NEA) reports 1,000 more rats burrows detected. Rats in Bukit Batok hill area have also caused concerns for the public as well. What are the rat control measures that can be put in place to address the rat problem in Singapore?

Pest control companies in Singapore have also reported an increasing number of calls pertaining to rat infestation. Rentokil shares our expert point of view on the recent rat infestation cases with The New Paper. Dr Chan Hiang Hao, medical entomologist with Rentokil pest control in Singapore shares that all it takes are food, shelter and water for rats to find a home and that these burrows are commonly dug by the pregnant rats where there is food and water available.

Dr Chan adds: “One cm is all a rodent needs to enter a building. Old buildings without consistent or regular maintenance are most at risk of allowing entry points for rodents, through cracks, gaps and crevices.”

Did you know? The commonly used baits in rat control are peanut butter and dried cuttlefish. It is not easy to catch rats with baits as they are fearful of new and unfamiliar objects, odours and tastes.

Aside efforts from the authority, it also mentions that a coordinated approach is required from stakeholders for rat control to be success. Stakeholders should play their part in engaging pest control operators and coordinate their own rat control plans. Like how Dr Chan emphasizes, “It is important to build awareness and education around storage and waste management like food waste and cleanliness as well as proper disposal of bulky items.” Everyone in the community plays a part in solving the rat problem in Singapore.

To spot the signs of rat infestation, the article mentions that bite marks on goods and food packaging, gnaw marks on electrical cables and urine on walls are all signs that rats are around.

Learn more on Signs of Rats.

In the article closing, the experts in pest control advise that garbage bins should be covered with food spills and waste cleaned up. Remove bulky items that are lying around so that rats don’t have places to hide and breed in. Rats are filthy and can spread disease as well as chew up wires, pipes and insulation. Rat leave behind hazardous droppings and urine anywhere they go. It is important to have rat control measures in place and keep a rat infestation out of bay before rats in Singapore get out of control. Squeak!!