NEA to sniff out causes of rat behaviour

Some of Singapore's rats may be changing their behaviour to adapt and live more easily.

The Norway or sewer rat, for example, traditionally burrows into the ground to make its home, or lives in sewers.

However, as more buildings have gone up across the island over the past few years, pest busters have noticed increasing numbers of them simply living in gaps in or between building slabs and other structural defects.

To better understand how the rats' behaviours have changed, the National Environment Agency (NEA) intends to begin a research project into the matter, The Straits Times understands.

Details of the project are still being worked out, but it is expected to involve finding out the rat population, how they behave, how that behaviour has changed and how the rodents survive in urban areas.

The study will be timely as companies that provide rodent control services said that the rat situation in Singapore seems to be worsening.

Four of them told The Straits Times that they have received up to 60 per cent more inquiries related to rats in the past year.

Star Pest Control, which dealt with the Bukit Batok infestation that made headlines last month, handles nearly 60 cases a month now, an increase of about 40 per cent from 2013.

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Stray dogs seen eating rats at Bukit Batok MRT station

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NEA to sniff out causes of rat behaviour