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10 amazing facts about New York City's rats

10 amazing facts about New York City's rats

It's an urban myth that there are as many rats as people in New York. In fact, the real number of rats is closer to a quarter of the number of people (or about 2 million rodents).

10 amazing facts about New York City's rats

Science1 min read

All New York City rats today are the same species: the Norwegian rat (Rattus norvegicus). This is the same kind as pet rats and lab rats. It's also known as the brown rat, the sewer rat, and the alley rat.

All New York City rats today are the same species: the Norwegian
rat (Rattus norvegicus). This is the same kind as pet rats and lab rats. It

The average adult brown rat is 16 inches long and weighs 1 pound, but some have been reported to be as long as 20 inches and weigh up to 2 pounds.

The average adult brown rat is 16 inches long and weighs 1 pound, but some have been reported to be as long as 20 inches and weigh up to 2 pounds.

They reproduce incredibly fast. Rats are sexually mature at 2-3 months old, and can produce a litter of 5-7 pups every couple of months.

They reproduce incredibly fast. Rats are sexually mature at 2-3 months old, and can produce a litter of 5-7 pups every couple of months.

Rats eat everything (pizza rat is a case in point). They can survive on just an ounce of food and water a day, which they can easily get from NYC's trash and food waste.

Rats eat everything (pizza rat is a case in point). They can survive on just an ounce of food and water a day, which they can easily get from NYC

As you might expect, rats are crawling with nasty bugs that can make us sick, like the bubonic plague (picture below). One study found that NYC rats carry the bacteria E. coli, Clostridium difficile, and Salmonella, as well as rat-bite fever and Seoul hantavirus (which can cause serious fever and sometimes death).

As you might expect, rats are crawling with nasty bugs that can make us sick, like the bubonic plague (picture below). One study found that NYC rats carry the bacteria E. coli, Clostridium difficile, and Salmonella, as well as rat-bite fever and Seoul hantavirus (which can cause serious fever and sometimes death).

There are even stories of rats attempting to eat humans. In 1860, The New York Times ran a story about a dead newborn baby whose nose, upper lip, cheek, and toes were reportedly chewed off by rodents.

There are even stories of rats attempting to eat humans. In 1860, The New York Times ran a story about a dead newborn baby whose nose, upper lip, cheek, and toes were reportedly chewed off by rodents.

Urban dwellers beware: Rats can easily wriggle up toilet pipes, as a recent National Geographic video demonstrated.

Urban dwellers beware: Rats can easily wriggle up toilet pipes, as a recent National Geographic video demonstrated.

New York City has found some innovative ways to deal with its rat problem. An organization called the Ryders Alley Trencher Fed Society (R.A.T.S.) trains dogs to hunt rats anyway they're needed.

New York City has found some innovative ways to deal with its rat problem. An organization called the Ryders Alley Trencher Fed Society (R.A.T.S.) trains dogs to hunt rats anyway they

But rats aren't going anywhere. According to "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History," by Elizabeth Kolbert, they may be some of the few animals that could survive the next mass extinction. In fact, all of us mammals are descended from a ratlike creature that emerged from the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs.

Sources: 1, 2

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