There is an old adage “you are never more than six feet away from a rat”. This is especially so if you live in a densely populated city. Even in glamorous world—class cities like New York, Paris and London, rat populations amount to millions, according to Animal Planet. It is not a rare sight to see a rat scurrying along a drain or leaping from a garbage bin.
The higher the population density, the greater amount of wastage and the more litter bugs there will be and the more the rats thrive. In fact, according to recent rat culling exercises carried out in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, it was observed that the main food source for the rats in our estate is waste left by residents at void decks near the bulky bin area.
Since reports of rat sightings have surfaced, pest control services have been engaged on a regular basis to keep the rat population in control and eventually exterminate it.
Waste left out overnight in the open are rat magnets. Residents are reminded to bag your waste properly and dispose them in designated dustbins and rubbish chutes.
Additionally, not all presumed rat sightings are rats. In recent culling activities, almost half of the captured rodents were found to be shrews, which are commonly mistaken as rats due to their similar appearance. However, unlike rats, shrews are less invasive, largely harmless and may even be helpful to pest control as they consume harmful insects like cockroaches.
Prevention is better than cure, particularly when it comes to controlling the rat population. Rats multiply rapidly and have several nests in different locations, making it a challenge to exterminate them. Everyone must do their part by practising responsible waste management and keeping their living environment clean and waste-free.
Photo by Ken Hawkins
– This article first appeared in a newsletter for Bishan-Toa Payoh residents
