An urban rodentologist, Bobby Corrigan, has identified a link between rising global temperatures and increased rat activity in metropolitan areas. Research supports this observation, indicating that cities experiencing greater temperature increases over time also observed larger increases in rat populations, while select cities like Tokyo and New Orleans reported declines.
Rats are characterized by their rapid breeding cycles, capable of producing over 1,000 offspring from two individuals within a single year, with breeding beginning as early as nine weeks of age. Experts note that urban environments provide abundant suitable habitats, including nooks, pipes, and drains, which contribute to the proliferation of rat populations.
In response to these trends, some cities have initiated mitigation efforts. New York City, for example, estimated to house three million rats across its five boroughs, allocated $3.5 million (£2.6 million) towards increasing public awareness about rat mitigation. This effort included the launch of a “rat academy” aimed at educating communities on prevention strategies.
Source: www.bbc.com