How Common Are Rats in NYC?
WouterSince 2010, Brooklyn is the borough with the highest number of rat sightings. Other hotspots include the 23rd to 28th Street area and certain parts of Hell’s Kitchen. The Upper West Side and the Bronx also have high rat populations. The highest density of sightings can be found east of Columbia University and above 100th Street.
Rats thrive in urban settings, where they have access to food sources. In the New York City area, rats have developed their diet around curbside garbage disposal and littering. They use the same routes to get to their food sources as humans. This increased the number of rat sightings and complaints. Luckily, there is new technology to help eliminate rat infestations.
Rats reproduce quickly, with a female rat able to produce up to eight pups in five weeks. Once the pups hatch, they will start reproducing with other rats. New York City was first invaded by rats in the late 1700s, and they’ve been a problem ever since. Rats have been infesting city streets, parks, and basements since then. Since then, several species of rats have tried to enter the city during trade with Africa, but failed to gain a foothold.
The number of rat sightings in the city has dramatically increased over the past two years. In fact, in the first four months of 2019, there were over seven thousand reports. The rise in sightings is attributed to several factors. The city’s waste management program needs to be overhauled and new technology must be implemented.
