The presence of rats in cities is ceasing to be a sporadic occurrence and is becoming increasingly frequent unwanted visitors. This phenomenon even has a name, “Ratmageddon,” and it extends from London in the United Kingdom to New York City, San Francisco, and Toronto. What is causing this wave of rats? The same culprit behind many other changes in the planet’s ecosystems: climate change. Scientists talk about increasingly long summers, shorter winters, and earlier springs. This causes rats to stay active for longer periods, reproducing over extended periods.
Rats
In case there is someone who doesn’t know what a rat is, or is reading this article just waking up, rats belong to the genus Rattus, a genus of muroid rodents in the family Muridae. They are medium-sized rodents. They have short front legs with four toes and longer hind legs with five toes. The genus includes between 56 and 65 species. From domestic to wild, rats evoke all kinds of emotions among humans. Some adore them, while others suffer from musophobia, which is an irrational fear of them.
Ratmageddon
It is the name given to the phenomenon that is occurring in Europe and the United States. While the presence of rats on the streets was previously a sporadic event, it has now become an increasingly frequent occurrence. A study cited by the BBC notes that “in Washington DC the increase was nearly 400%, in San Francisco it was 300%, Toronto 180%, and New York 160%.” This represents unprecedented and evidently exponential growth.
Urban StructuresThe problem is more pronounced in cities where infrastructures are older. This makes it easier for rodents to venture into buildings, attics, and even the second floor. Any place that meets the conditions of disorder, food scraps, or shelter where they can feel secure will very likely be occupied by them.
Why is there an increase in the number of rats?
The control measures that were used until now are proving to be ineffective against these cases.It is no surprise to anyone that scientists have long been warning that summers will be increasingly longer, and consequently, we will have shorter winters. Additionally, springs will come earlier and earlier, resulting in increasingly warmer temperatures. This causes rats to be able to remain active for a longer period of time, daring to leave their nests, thus facilitating reproduction. The more time they have to go outside and feed, the faster their population will grow. According to the BBC study mentioned earlier, “cities experiencing the greatest increases in temperature over time saw the biggest increases in rats”.