Relationships between Norway rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) occurrence and garbage collection methods in a densely populated drinking district in Japan

The sanitary and economic problems associated with the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) in urban environments have long been a major global concern. Understanding the ecological characteristics of target pest species, including their habitat preferences, is crucial for implementing effective population control measures within the framework of integrated pest management. However, limited research has investigated the relationship between rat occurrence and garbage collection methods, even though garbage is a staple food resource for urban rat populations. In this study, we assessed the relationship between Norway rat occurrence and garbage collection methods by conducting 774 rat-count sessions at garbage collection sites in a densely populated drinking district in Japan. The garbage collection methods employing plastic buckets and plastic garbage bins for beverage cans exhibited a lower average of rat observations among the five examined methods. The method using large waste or storage containers (≥200 l) constructed from metal plates with holes, such as wire mesh, exhibited a marginally higher number of rat observations among the five methods. In addition, the number of rat observations significantly increased when garbage bags and bins were damaged or located near rain gutters. The magnitude of the change in rat observations attributable to the use or non-use of plastic buckets and plastic garbage bins for beverage cans was comparable to that attributable to presence of damage and proximity to rain gutters. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate method for collecting food waste in drinking districts to mitigate rat attraction, thereby minimizing human-rat contact risks.