Hong Kong launches precision rat cull targeting hotspots
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has launched 'Operation Thunder' to target rat infestations using data-driven precision culling. The operation has inspected 1,373 locations, captured 103 live rats and sealed 199 rat holes. Authorities threaten prosecution for property owners wh
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has launched 'Operation Thunder', a risk‑based, precision rat‑culling campaign that uses activity data, field intelligence and actual infestation patterns to target nesting and breeding sites rather than simply trapping rats where they are seen.
Under the operation, FEHD focuses on high‑risk locations including parks, green belts, slopes, back alleys of restaurants and areas around refuse collection points. The department uses traps and rodenticides flexibly, deploying mobile night‑time teams during peak rat activity. After culling, teams seal rat holes and entry points and remove food sources and hiding places.
Since the operation began, FEHD has inspected 1,373 locations across the city, of which 1,171 were sites managed by other government departments such as parks and recreational areas. Inspectors found 199 rat holes or hiding spots, captured 103 live rats and collected 51 dead rats. Poisoning and sealing of rat holes has been completed at 92 locations.
The department is also taking action against private premises with serious infestations. It issued 15 'rodent elimination notices' to the owner of an industrial building in Kwun Tong's Yip Shing Street. When follow‑up checks found the problem persisted, a night‑time rat‑culling team was deployed, catching more than 50 rats on the first night. FEHD says it will consider prosecuting the responsible parties under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and recover the costs of its intervention.
FEHD acknowledges that some rats may die in hidden burrows and not be immediately counted. It assesses the operation's effectiveness by tracking active burrows, monitoring changes in rat activity and conducting post‑treatment checks, adjusting its approach as needed.
The operation is coordinated with other government departments and site managers to promote sustained cleaning, rat‑proofing and facility maintenance. A department spokesman said that 'Operation Thunder' complements a separate enforcement drive called 'Operation Sky Net', which focuses on inspections and enforcement. The two operations together aim to strengthen culling and enforcement while pushing site managers to improve daily management and tackle rat infestations at source.
FEHD stressed that rat control requires joint efforts from the government, the industry and the public, and that it will continue to monitor, intervene, provide professional support and enforce the law.