n### Cold Snap Chills New york City’s rats, Heats Up the Fight Against Them
NEW YORK — This week’s frigid weather has left many New York City residents shivering, scurrying into cozy spots, and feeling sapped. But they’re not the only ones feeling the chill. The city’s notorious rats are also feeling the bite of the cold, and it’s giving the city’s rat-fighters a unique advantage.
While New York City has been spared the extreme wind chills of the Upper Midwest and the shock of record-breaking snow in the deep South, temperatures have still plummeted well below average. Monday saw a high of around 26 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius), while Tuesday and Wednesday hovered around 20 degrees (-7 Celsius).This Arctic blast is not just affecting humans—it’s also taking a toll on the city’s rodent population.
“It’s stressing out rats. It’s putting them in their burrows,” says city “rat czar” Kathleen Corradi. “So we kind of get to double down now while the rats are ‘feeling the heat’ from this cold snap.”
New York City’s wild rat species, Rattus norvegicus, also known as the Norway rat or brown rat, doesn’t hibernate in winter. though, they do become less active during prolonged freezing periods. Additionally, their food sources dwindle as people stay indoors, leaving fewer discarded food wrappers and other rat snacks on the streets.This combination of factors leads to stressed rats and suppressed breeding. “Breeding is really their superpower,” Corradi explains. Norway rats can reproduce multiple times a year, especially when conditions are favorable, though they are most prolific from spring through fall.Jason Munshi-South, a Drexel University ecology professor who has studied New York city’s rats, notes that those already sheltered in subway tunnels, sewers, or crawlspaces can weather the cold fairly well. Though, rats without secure hideaways might venture into unusual places, such as car engine blocks or basements—if building owners haven’t diligently blocked them out.
“Harsh winters like we are having so far will keep the rat population at a lower level if we have sustained cold, freezing periods,” Munshi-south said in an email.Some rats, especially those already sick or malnourished, are likely to freeze to death.
This cold snap provides a window of possibility for the city’s rat-fighters to make headway before the warmer months arrive. While there’s no official count of New York City’s rats, the current conditions are helping to suppress their numbers.
Key Points: How the Cold Snap Affects NYC’s Rats
| Factor | Impact on Rats |
|————————–|————————————————————————————|
| Temperature Drop | Rats become less active and retreat to burrows. |
| Food Scarcity | Fewer discarded food wrappers reduce food sources. |
| Breeding Suppression | Stress and cold conditions slow reproduction. |
| Vulnerability | Sick or malnourished rats are more likely to freeze to death. |
| Opportunity | City rat-fighters can intensify efforts to control the population. |
As the cold persists, New Yorkers can take solace in knowing that the frigid weather is not just a nuisance—it’s also a powerful ally in the ongoing battle against the city’s rat population.New York City has long been synonymous with its bustling streets, iconic landmarks, and, unfortunately, its persistent rat problem. Successive city administrations have tried various approaches to tackle the issue, but the rodents remain a formidable challenge. Enter Mayor Eric Adams, who has taken a hands-on approach to combating the critters, even battling them at his own Brooklyn home.
In a bold move,Adams created the position of director of rodent mitigation about two years ago,appointing Kathleen Corradi to lead the charge. This role underscores the management’s commitment to addressing the city’s rat infestation head-on. One of the key strategies implemented is requiring trash “containerization,” a policy aimed at reducing the rodents’ food sources by mandating that household and business garbage be placed in enclosed bins rather than piled in plastic bags on the curb.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to make the city cleaner and less hospitable to rats. By focusing on trash containerization, the administration hopes to disrupt the rodents’ access to food, a critical factor in their survival and proliferation. This approach builds on previous efforts by other administrations, which have experimented with everything from poison to public awareness campaigns.
Here’s a summary of the key measures taken by the adams administration to combat the rat problem:
| Measure | Description |
|———————————-|———————————————————————————|
| Director of Rodent Mitigation | Creation of a dedicated role to oversee rat control efforts. |
| Trash Containerization | Mandating the use of enclosed bins for garbage disposal to reduce food sources. |
| Public Awareness Campaigns | Educating residents on proper waste disposal practices. |
While the battle against rats is far from over, the Adams administration’s focus on trash containerization and the appointment of a director of rodent mitigation signal a renewed commitment to addressing the issue. Whether these measures will finally tip the scales in the city’s favor remains to be seen,but for now,New Yorkers can take solace in knowing that their mayor is as steadfast as they are to rid the streets of these unwelcome guests.
