When to Call a Rat Exterminator in Singapore?
Rat exterminator services are crucial because rodent infestation can wreak havoc in dense and tropical cities like Singapore. Apart from being a nuisance factor, rats are a threat to public health. From contaminating food and damaging wiring to triggering shutdowns and harming reputation, rodents are dangerous pests that require professional rat exterminators’ solutions for complete elimination. Yes, certain precautionary steps can help you keep these intruders at bay. However, watch out for clear red flags that mean you must stop at-home fixes and contact a licensed rat exterminator.
Through this blog, we will present facts and figures on rat infestations in Singapore to highlight why acting promptly (and professionally) matters a lot while dealing with rodent infestation. We also bring you the expert solutions of ORIGIN Exterminators that can be your best solution for rat control. Read along to determine how our techniques, data-driven and sustainable solutions align with NEA’s guidance.
Singapore’s Rat Reality: Facts and Figures
Rats may hide out of sight but the data does not. Here are a few highlights of how this pest remains a serious challenge in Singapore:
1. Burrow surveillance
The NEA conducts periodic surveillance (every two months) to inspect rat burrows. The chart above visualises that burrow detections are improving, but not at a satisfactory rate. For instance, in 2020 and 2021, they detected an average of 4,300 to 3,900 burrows per cycle in public areas. The average burrow count shot to approximately 5,200 in 2023.
Since last year, the count has decreased; the first half of 2024 recorded about 2,700 rat burrows. However, the baseline needs improvement, especially in the construction-adjacent and waste-dense zones.
2. Stricter enforcement
To sensitise property owners and residents towards rat-related lapses, in 2024, NEA took more than 1,000 enforcement actions across Singapore. Moving forward, it announced stricter compliance measures in 2025, which target:
The NEA conducts periodic surveillance (every two months) to inspect rat burrows. The chart above visualises that burrow detections are improving, but not at a satisfactory rate. For instance, in 2020 and 2021, they detected an average of 4,300 to 3,900 burrows per cycle in public areas. The average burrow count shot to approximately 5,200 in 2023.
Since last year, the count has decreased; the first half of 2024 recorded about 2,700 rat burrows. However, the baseline needs improvement, especially in the construction-adjacent and waste-dense zones.
2. Stricter enforcement
To sensitise property owners and residents towards rat-related lapses, in 2024, NEA took more than 1,000 enforcement actions across Singapore. Moving forward, it announced stricter compliance measures in 2025, which target:
- poor housekeeping/ refuse management
- defects in refuse facilities
- presence of rat nests in the premises
When to Call a Rat Exterminator in Singapore?
There are simple prevention tips (clearing food debris, sealing obvious entry-exit gaps, placing traps or baits, securing dustbin lids) that you can take to ward off these pests. But if you notice the following signs, you must promptly reach out to a licensed rat exterminator:1. Multiple daytime sightings
Increased rodent activity, especially during the day, indicates an intensifying infestation with increased nesting. This also means that the store-bought baits or traps have failed to curb the population.2. Increased signs of their presence
Dark, moist (fresh) droppings; new rub marks along pipes/walls; grease marks, and chewed cables largely signify an active route and feeding patterns. Professional rat exterminators will map their activity and disrupt them.3. Harbourages and runs near refuse areas
Rat burrows or nests along open soil, planter beds and bin centres are definite warning markers. NEA’s strict enforcement, sharp focus on eliminating nest presence, and better refuse systems underscore why DIY will not work once the burrows appear.4. Failed DIY attempts
If there are constant recurrences after using retail baits and traps, there is a hygiene or structural issue. These can be fixed only by professional-grade controls like Integrated Pest Management (IPM).5. Food business or high-footfall premises
NEA expects supermarkets, F&B outlets, hawker-sites and malls to have a robust system to tackle rodent infestation by working with licensed providers. Not only is health at stake here, but even reputation. Plus, it can call for action with increased rat activity enforcement action.How do professional rat exterminators function with the NEA-aligned approach?
In Singapore, any NEA-licensed rat exterminator will implement IPM. This typically includes the following:- Survey and risk assessment: Map rat burrows/harbourage, species present, travel routes, food and water sources, and access points (entry exit points).
- Housekeeping and sanitation fixes: Cleaning routine, waste storage, grease management, and cleaning frequency.
- Proofing (exclusion): Seal spaces around pipe penetrations, fit bristle strips, employ roller shutters, and repair gnawable substrates.
- Targeted control measures: Employing snap traps or electronic units and professional baits in tamper-resistant spots. Usage of non-chemical methods to meet food or child safety in sensitive areas.
- Monitoring and documentation: Documenting an up-to-date log book with burrow maps, trend charts and service reports. These audits prove diligence in the case of an NEA inspection.
