Rat Infestation Taking
Over New York City According to reports, rat sightings soared
nearly 38% in 2018 in comparison to 2014. 17,353 rat sightings were reported in 2018,
and the number of city health inspections that
found active signs of rats nearly doubled to 30,874. Gentrification is sited as a main cause of
the growing number of rats, as construction
is forcing more rats into the open. Climate change also plays a role, as the
milder winters makes it easier for rats
to survive and reproduce. However, the biggest factor is the city's trash
collection, as bags are left curbside for hours,
making them easily accessible to rats. In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a
$32 million plan to increase litter basket
pickups and deploy rat-resistant steel cans. Although the plan saw fleeting success, deputy
Mayor of Operations Laura Anglin said the city is
still actively taking action against the infestation. Laura Anglin,
via New York Times The top areas for rat sighting complaints are
the Upper West Side, Prospect Heights,
Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick.