For a long time, the number of rats in New York City was unknown, and a common urban legend declared there were up to five times as many rats as people. However, a 2023 study estimates that there are approximately 3 million rats in New York, which is close to a third of New York's human population.

6 days ago · New York City is getting rattier, thanks to climate change. That’s a takeaway from a new study, which found cities that warmed the most saw the largest hikes in rat populations.. 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.

6 days ago · New York City is getting rattier, thanks to climate change. That’s a takeaway from a new study, which found cities that warmed the most saw the largest hikes in rat populations. 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 ...

Jan 31, 2025 · “In New Orleans they make a big effort to get out into neighborhoods and do educational workshops and campaigns to talk to residents about what makes a property less likely to have rats,” Richardson said. New York City’s recently stepped up rat-fighting, which includes replacing garbage in bags on the street with rat-resistant containers ...

Jan 31, 2025 · Although cities have ramped up their use of poisons and traps, the number of rats in places like New York City, San Francisco, and Toronto has increased in recent years, according to a...

Mar 7, 2024 · Since August 2023, the city claims that rat sightings have been down 68% in what New York City has deemed " rat mitigation zones." These zones are locations that the city says are the most...

Oct 24, 2024 · So far this year, Brooklyn has had the most rat complaints among New York City boroughs (9,518), followed by Manhattan (5,375), Queens (4,409), the Bronx (3,508) and Staten Island (649).

Mar 18, 2023 · New York City's rats are relentless. They're also everywhere — in sewers and parks, underfoot, on the subways, and even in your walls. They've been in New York since the 18th century,...

Oct 6, 2024 · Nearly 80 years ago, rats lurked in the city's docks and butcheries, bringing the potential for disease, according to an account in the New Yorker magazine. Then, the most prevalent species...

Welcome to New York City’s Rat Information Portal. This is a web-based mapping application that allows you to view rat inspection and action data collected by the NYC Health Department. To get started, enter an address, zip code, neighborhood or …