How Many Rats Are in New York City?
WouterIt is not known exactly how many rats live in New York City, but according to one study, there are around two million of them in the city. The estimate is based on the number of sightings of rats in city lots and the number of colonies present in each lot. But that figure does not account for any colonies that may exist underground.
The city has tried to tackle the problem by installing rat poison and traps. In 2017, the city spent $32 million on rat-killing efforts. This program targeted the worst rat-infested areas, including the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and the East Village and Lower East Side.
The population of rats in New York has been rising in recent years. The rise in rodent sightings coincides with increasing construction in the city. The city is also struggling to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the epidemic, there were fewer rodents, but the number of rats has soared since. As a result, rat infestations have increased in the city’s well-known infested areas.
Rats can be dangerous to humans, especially if they are exposed to rat waste. Their saliva and waste can carry dangerous pathogens that cause diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Children may be particularly at risk of contracting these diseases. According to officials, there are nearly 2 million rats in New York City.
