During a recent visit to Bangkok, I couldn’t help but notice an incredible number of rats in the Silom area as I was walking around. One evening I counted at least one on every block. It was actually quite nauseating and having been to Bangkok many times, I don’t recall ever having seen so many in the past. I realize that rats are common in big cities, especially when there is street food and trash around, but this last experience truly seemed to be record breaking. Has anyone else noticed this? I’m not sure what can be done but I hope it doesn’t get worse. 

I have frequently noticed rats but not that the numbers have increased in recent years.

2 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

I have frequently noticed rats but not that the numbers have increased in recent years.

Maybe I just happened to notice them more than usual. It just seemed very strange. I remember reading an article that they were all coming out during the beginning of the pandemic because there weren’t many people around and they were hungry and looking for food. In any case there definitely a lot more than I had ever noticed before. 

End of 2021 when tourist numbers where still low and I was walking along Surawong Road in the night in sandals, rats were running over my feet more than one time. I dont know who was more shocked, me or the rats.

Rats are commonplace in cities worldwide whenever major construction projects are under way--a condition that certainly describes what's going on around Silom. As the critters are displaced by the demolition, they scurry about in search of food  and new quarters.

Returned recently from a two-month trip to Bangkok and and it was not uncommon to see rats moving about. Fortunately, there's also many natural predators (stray cats, dogs and yes--even snakes) around these sites that help police the population.

The rats we saw in Surawong three weeks ago were congregated in piles of food refuse from street vendors' stalls. There may be issues with refuse collection.

6 hours ago, 10tazione said:

End of 2021 when tourist numbers where still low and I was walking along Surawong Road in the night in sandals, rats were running over my feet more than one time. I dont know who was more shocked, me or the rats.

Maybe those particular rats had/have a foot fetish.    

5 hours ago, reader said:

Rats are commonplace in cities worldwide whenever major construction projects are under way--a condition that certainly describes what's going on around Silom. As the critters are displaced by the demolition, they scurry about in search of food  and new quarters.

Where I live in Florida there are many mobile home parks, and some are being cleared for construction of new rental apartment or condo construction.  Last year, one such redevelopment took place and hundreds of rats ran for cover ... onto the properties of $300,000 homes a short distance away.  I laughed, but affected homeowners didn't.

2 hours ago, Londoner said:

The rats we saw in Surawong three weeks ago were congregated in piles of food refuse from street vendors' stalls. There may be issues with refuse collection.

The refuse is collected in the late evening an early morning hours in Silom area. Rats have learned the schedule and race to get their share.

56 minutes ago, Mavica said:

Maybe those particular rats had/have a foot fetish.    

Even rodents have a fantasy life. Lol

1 hour ago, reader said:

The refuse is collected in the late evening an early morning hours in Silom area. Rats have learned the schedule and race to get their share.

Even rodents have a fantasy life. Lol

Of course they have - I mean, they are smart enough to train Ninja Turtles!!

The biggest rats I ever saw in my life were at Khao San road .it was disgusting. 

Back in 2018 during Songkran, after dark me and a friend walked along Silom to Burger King. The rats were in their thousands, flushed out the drains by all the water. We were using our water guns to clear a path for us to walk. 

When you sit on Soi 4, on those wooden terraces. Be sure there are dozens of rats underneath your feet. As said, big cities. You are never more than 6 feet from a rat. 

1 hour ago, gayinpattaya said:

The rats were in their thousands,

That's some old rats....

3 hours ago, reader said:

Rats have learned the schedule and race to get their share.

Like Templeton in Charlotte's Web?

On 7/27/2023 at 5:40 PM, Mavica said:

Last year, one such redevelopment took place and hundreds of rats ran for cover ... onto the properties of $300,000 homes a short distance away.  I laughed, but affected homeowners didn't.

Some people don,t have sense if humor or simply don,t like animals.

I must say that during recent trip I had the same impression OP had, number of rats seemed higher than ever. I was passing by nightly by certain pile of  garbage on Sala Daeng, just past Senso going to Silom and congregation there was more than impressive. 

But  like animals so just were carefull not to step on one.

Apologies in advance, but I am about to hijack this topic 🤪

There's the term "gym rats" which is used to mean folks who spend perhaps half their lives in gyms, obsessively building muscle. Then there's the danger of using such terms in the company of Thais for whom English is not the first language.

So... There was once when a newly minted Thai friend and I went to a gym. Neither of us had bodies one would associate with gyms but we thought it would be good to at least do something for fitness sake.

So we went. Bad choice. It was a gym for very serious body builders. The men there (I don't recall seeing any women) were almost obsessive compulsive in their workouts, and we looked like pathetic wimps in their company. We got looks (or more likely, self-conscious me imagined we got looks) that kind-of queried us, what are you two doing here?

I remarked to my Thai friend that maybe we should look for another gym, at least the next time.

"Why? What's wrong?" he asked.

"This place is full of gym rats," I whispered, which I thought was more than obvious why.

"Eeeeeeeek" ran off my friend. 

I had to run after him as (this time) real looks focussed on us.

I'm pretty sure he never actually saw a physical rat.

 

 

18 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

Neither of us had bodies one would associate with gyms

Normally you use a more precise scheme for describing bodies

From memory over the years I have only seen several 4 legged rats in the Silom area (probably seen many more after a nights drinks but not in the memory bank), plenty of 2 legged ones trying to scam me into those upstairs sex shows (no chance of that). I must also confess that being a regular gym goer when in Bangkok I have seen many desirable "gym rats", that also means both male and female ones Oh and if not attending the gym in the mornings there was always the seriously well built hunks working out at the outdoors gym in Lumphini Park that is worth checking out on the morning walks 

56 minutes ago, 10tazione said:

Normally you use a more precise scheme for describing bodies

Indeed I do, but when it comes to myself, I am at a loss for words.  Perhaps "non-descript" will have to do for now.🤣

In London they say you are never less than 10 yards from a rat!

I'm unsure if the situation is deteriorating, but it seems that every street I turn onto is plagued with the sight of giant rats. This issue has become increasingly nauseating and even causes me a sense of paranoia as I navigate the area. Despite my attempts to avoid looking down by keeping my gaze straight ahead, I still catch glimpses of them scurrying around in my peripheral vision. I must admit, hygiene-related issues easily unsettle me. Is the problem just as severe in the Sukhumvit and river areas? I'm considering choosing a different location than Silom for my next visit. 🐀 🤢 

On 7/29/2023 at 12:29 PM, vinapu said:

But  like animals so just were carefull not to step on one.

I like animals too, but for some reason I can’t seem to get myself to think of a rat as a likable animal. I feel a sense of relief when I see stray cats walking the streets hoping they will murder the rats. 

I remember seeing a movie years ago similar to The Birds .  But it was called The rats !!!

 

3 minutes ago, Olddaddy said:

 

I remember seeing a movie years ago similar to The Birds .  But it was called The rats !!!

 

I just looked it up and it looks like it was filmed in New York City. They should film a sequel in Bangkok.