Chinatown rat
population
stays constant

The state finds no rise in
numbers despite anecdotal reports

---

Star-Bulletin staff

A visual survey of the rat population in Chinatown has found no serious increase despite earlier anecdotal reports that the number was on the rise, a state official said.

"We did a survey because we kind of felt there was an increase in rodents in downtown Honolulu, but the survey did not reveal an increase," said Norman Sato, a supervisor in the Vector Control Branch of the state Health Department. "We found a few pockets (of rat activity) but that was just related to the amount of food that was around. Nothing extremely serious."

The nocturnal survey was conducted the last week in June on downtown and Chinatown streets because anecdotal evidence earlier this summer had suggested the population was up, he said.

The department said inspectors will continue to investigate specific complaints as they come in, but it plans no overall control program for the area.