Rat Population Explodes in Western Australia, Mayor Says: You Can Hear the Rats Under Your Vehicle

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Residents of Morawa, one of the epicentres of the rat plague in Western Australia, describe the sound of the rodents scurrying across roads as like “bubble wrap popping”.

The widespread rat plague in Western Australia is causing concern for farmers and city dwellers. In particular, in the wheat-growing regions of Western Australia, the rat population is said to have exploded to alarming levels. In some areas, residents have even begun to leave their homes.

Steve Henry, a rat population researcher from the Australian national science agency, CSIRO, says that more than 800 rats per hectare is considered a serious plague.

However, according to Henry, the latest reports from Western Australia show a much worse situation. In some areas, around 3,000 to 4,000 rat nests per hectare have been found.

“This is a plague in every sense of the word,” said Henry, as reported by Euronews on May 14, 2026. He said that the areas around Geraldton and throughout Western Australia are now in a critical condition.

Residents of Morawa, one of the epicentres of the plague, say that the sound of rats being run over by vehicles on the roads sounds like “bubble wrap popping”.

Morawa Mayor Karen Chappel says that the situation is starting to affect all aspects of daily life.

“We’re talking about thousands of rats. When you drive, you can hear the sound of the rats popping,” Chappel told ABC News.

She also said that the snakes in the area are growing abnormally due to consuming excessive amounts of rats.

According to Chappel, residents are now forced to live alongside rats in their beds, cupboards, and even kitchens. Even the prescription slips in her own kitchen drawers are being gnawed on by rats.