Rats! Global Study Finds Rodent Boom Linked to Climate Change in NYC and Beyond
New York City is getting rattier, thanks to climate change.
Using data from public rat sightings and inspections between 2007 and 2024, the researchers examined 16 cities around the world and found two-thirds saw increases in rat populations. New York City saw the fourth-highest spike in rats.
The rats don’t just run this town — they also run Washington, San Francisco and Toronto, which, according to the study, had the biggest rat increases, respectively.
The study, published in the journal Science Advances, is the first of its kind to use data to demonstrate the connection between climate change and rats. Its 19 authors hailed from all over the world and represented a variety of fields, including biology, environmental health and pest control.
Winter Foraging
Just as human behavior fuels rat behavior, so too does human behavior fuel climate change — chiefly a result of burning fossil fuels, which release gases and heat up the planet.
In New York City, temperatures have increased about 0.3 degrees each decade since the 1950s. They are projected to rise between 2 and nearly 5 degrees on average by the next decade, according to the New York City Panel on Climate Change. Across the board, cities tend to be hotter than rural or suburban areas because of concrete, tall buildings that limit air circulation and heat-generating activities — like driving and running air conditioners — that emit heat.
War on Rats
The city “Rat Czar” Kathleen Corradi, whose official title is citywide director of rodent mitigation, says that the results are a reminder that humans need to step up to counter forces that push rat populations to grow.
Mayor Eric Adams has made the war on rats a central part of his administration’s strategy, with his Department of Sanitation moving ahead with containerization of trash in the city. Meanwhile, he continues to swat at Department of Health and Mental Hygiene summonses alleging a rat infestation at his Brooklyn home.
A rat is “the perfect urban exploiter,” added Corradi. “Rat behavior is almost entirely fueled by human behavior.”
To fight rats, the Adams administration is asking businesses and residents to put trash and organic waste into containers for disposal, rather than in bags piled up on sidewalks that provide a feast for rats. (Though determined rats can still chew through those bins.)
Conclusion
The bottom line, according to the authors of the study: Cities that want to get rid of rats should focus on changing the environment that allows rats to thrive, rather than on removing rats themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are rats becoming more common in cities?
A: According to the study, rats are more likely to thrive in cities with warmer temperatures, lack of greenery, and high human population density.
Q: How can cities prevent rat infestations?
A: Cities can focus on waste management, especially food waste management, and create environments that discourage rat populations.
Q: What is the city doing to combat the rat problem?
A: The city has set up Rat Mitigation Zones, and is asking businesses and residents to put trash and organic waste into containers for disposal. They have also launched a pilot program to deploy rat birth control, rather than poison, in certain areas.
Q: How can individuals help combat the rat problem?
A: Individuals can participate in the Rat Academy, hosted by the Department of Health, and become part of a so-called Rat Pack. They can also learn more about rodents and pest management, and take steps to reduce waste and keep their neighborhoods clean.
