How Big Are the Rats in New York City?
WouterThere is a serious rat problem in New York City. The city has experienced a spike in rat sightings in recent years. A $32 million rat control program launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio is aimed at getting rid of the vermin. As part of this effort, workers are laying more rat traps and poison. In addition, the sanitation department is blasting dry ice into rat burrows. Some building owners have been fined for neglecting to properly clean up garbage. And even a heron recently swallowed a rat in Central Park.
The rats’ population has increased and migrated. The city’s residents are convinced there are more rats than ever before. One reason for the increase is the growth of outdoor dining structures. They were originally installed in response to the rat pandemic but were eventually made permanent by former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Despite the growing number of rats in the city, experts believe that the current population is much smaller than that of humans. Rats typically live for one year, reach puberty at about three months, and reproduce every two months. During the last few years, the city has also had a spike in rat infestation due to a reduction in budgets and the disposal of food.
The rats in New York City are typically brown or Norway rats. The average size of a brown rat is about 16 inches long and weighs a pound. However, some species of these rats can grow up to two pounds and can reach 20 inches long. A brown rat is also able to tread water for up to three days, and it is capable of chewing through cinder blocks and pipes.
