How the rat population in New York City grew by 800% and infested the city in less than 65 years

James PasleyMar 18, 2023, 21:16 IST

In this July 7, 2000 file photo, rats swarm around a bag of garbage near a dumpster at the Baruch Houses in New York City.Robert Mecea/AP

New York City's rat population has grown exponentially since the middle of the 20th century.
In 1950, an estimated 250,000 rats lived in the city. By 2014, there were an estimated 2 million.

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, and they've taken a firm hold — current estimates put the rat population at about 2 million across 90% of the city, according to The Atlantic.

For as long as rats have scurried across the city, politicians and locals have sworn to destroy them. But so far, no one's managed.

Here's how rats took hold of the city — and why they're not about to let go.

About 250 years ago, the Norwegian rat — also known as the brown rat, the alley rat or the sewer rat — arrived in America on ships from Europe. No one knows when the first rat made it ashore, but experts are fairly sure they came during the American Revolution.

A brown rat photographed in 1953.Denis de Marney/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

About 250 years ago, the Norwegian rat — also known as the brown rat, the alley rat or the sewer rat — arrived in America on ships from Europe. No one knows when the first rat made it ashore, but experts are fairly sure they came during the American Revolution.

Even if only a few made it over, rats breed rapidly. They live for about two years but are sexually mature within two months, mate within 2 seconds, and can produce eight to 10 babies about six times a year — that's 120 rats for each rat mother during their lifetime.

A female rat with her litter.Andia/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Even if only a few made it over, rats breed rapidly. They live for about two years but are sexually mature within two months, mate within 2 seconds, and can produce eight to 10 babies about six times a year — that's 120 rats for each rat mother during their lifetime.

They're not soft and cuddly either, like mice or squirrels. As Fordham University biologist Dr Jason Munshi-South told The New York Times, they're rough and mean. They fight each other.

A roughed up rat runs along the High Line Park on September 22, 2018 in New York City.Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

They're not soft and cuddly either, like mice or squirrels. As Fordham University biologist Dr Jason Munshi-South told The New York Times, they're rough and mean. They fight each other.

Rats are agile and able to jump 3 feet high and 4 feet across. But their speed and agility aren't the only reasons why they're master escape artists. Each of their many burrows usually has three exits, a primary one and two escape routes.

A rat leaves its burrow in a park in New York City in 2015.Mary Altaffer/AP

Rats are agile and able to jump 3 feet high and 4 feet across. But their speed and agility aren't the only reasons why they're master escape artists. Each of their many burrows usually has three exits, a primary one and two escape routes.

The widest part of the brown rat is the skull, meaning if its head can fit into a hole or space, it can — and will — get in there.

A rat’s head sticking out of a hole in the bottom of a New York garbage can in 2016.Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Rats first made headlines in New York City in 1860 for reportedly mutilating and killing a newborn child, and again in 1865 when The New York Times said the city was getting a reputation for having more rats "than any other city in the Union."

A rat wanders the train tracks in New York City.Frank Franklin/AP

Rats first made headlines in New York City in 1860 for reportedly mutilating and killing a newborn child, and again in 1865 when The New York Times said the city was getting a reputation for having more rats "than any other city in the Union."

In 1950, there were an estimated 250,000 rats in the city. Since then, there have been a few wildly varying estimates, including one in 1997 claiming there were 28 million rats. But more conservatively, in 2014, there were an estimated 2 million rats in the city.

In the late 1960s, rat infestations were primarily in Harlem, Lower East Side, and parts of Brooklyn where marginalized communities lived. This wasn't a coincidence — it was institutional racism. Buildings and infrastructure weren't properly maintained and trash pickups weren't as frequent as in primarily white neighborhoods.

A rat sitting on top of a paint can in the kitchen of a tenement in Harlem in 1964.Truman Moore/Getty Images

In the late 1960s, rat infestations were primarily in Harlem, Lower East Side, and parts of Brooklyn where marginalized communities lived. This wasn't a coincidence — it was institutional racism. Buildings and infrastructure weren't properly maintained and trash pickups weren't as frequent as in primarily white neighborhoods.

But the rats have since spread out. In 1974, rats only covered an estimated 10% of the city. Experts now think up to 90% of the city is rat-infested.

But rats don't stray too far from their home base. The rats you see in the morning could be the same rats you see at night — they rarely go more than 660 feet from wherever they live.

A rat leaves its hole briefly at a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York in 2014.Julie Jacobson/AP

But rats don't stray too far from their home base. The rats you see in the morning could be the same rats you see at night — they rarely go more than 660 feet from wherever they live.

The early 1970s played a crucial role in the increase in rat populations in the city. First, the federal government passed the Federal Clean Air Act 1970, which led to New York City banning apartment buildings using incinerators to destroy trash.

A rat sticks its head out of a garbage can as it hunts for food in Bogardus Plaza in Tribeca on August 17, 2022, in New York City.Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

The early 1970s played a crucial role in the increase in rat populations in the city. First, the federal government passed the Federal Clean Air Act 1970, which led to New York City banning apartment buildings using incinerators to destroy trash.

Second, the city introduced plastic rubbish bags in 1971. Instead of metal trash cans, rats could suddenly eat all the trash they wanted, and there was more of it, too, since it wasn't being burned anymore.

People make their way past trash bags in New York City.Leonardo Munoz/VIEW Press/Getty Images

Second, the city introduced plastic rubbish bags in 1971. Instead of metal trash cans, rats could suddenly eat all the trash they wanted, and there was more of it, too, since it wasn't being burned anymore.

The other factor was climate change. Rats don't hibernate in the winter, but their reproduction cycle slows since it's harder for them to find food. As winters have gotten warmer, they have been able to breed more.

A rat jumps into a puddle in the snow in New York in 2019.Carlo Allegri/Reuters

The other factor was climate change. Rats don't hibernate in the winter, but their reproduction cycle slows since it's harder for them to find food. As winters have gotten warmer, they have been able to breed more.

Even so, according to E. Randy Dupree, one of New York's former "master rat hunters," the fight was going pretty good between 1969 and 1986 when the city implemented a three-pronged approach: extermination, education and clean-up.

A Border Terrier named Merlin chews on a dead rat which he killed during an organized rat hunt on New York City's Lower East Side in 2014.Mike Segar/Reuters

Even so, according to E. Randy Dupree, one of New York's former "master rat hunters," the fight was going pretty good between 1969 and 1986 when the city implemented a three-pronged approach: extermination, education and clean-up.

From 1987 to 1996, New York's rat budget fell from $12 million to $5 million. The three-pronged approach to fight the infestation was no longer affordable. "The rats began to win the war," Dupree told The New York Times.

A rat enters its burrow at a park in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York.Mary Altaffer/AP

From 1987 to 1996, New York's rat budget fell from $12 million to $5 million. The three-pronged approach to fight the infestation was no longer affordable. "The rats began to win the war," Dupree told The New York Times.

Over the last few decades, New York mayors have tried to take up the mantle. In 1997, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani put aside $8 million and created an extermination task force, which used three different types of poisons to kill rats.

Rudy Giuliani, then New York City Mayor-elect, and former Mayor John Lindsay.Ed Bailey/AP

Over the last few decades, New York mayors have tried to take up the mantle. In 1997, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani put aside $8 million and created an extermination task force, which used three different types of poisons to kill rats.

In 2017, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio put aside $32 million for killing rats. One of his administration's methods was to stuff rat holes with dry ice, which suffocated the rats with carbon dioxide. It proved effective, but labor intensive.

Then-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio addresses supporters after his re-election in New York City, U.S. November 7, 2017.Brendan McDermid/Reuters

In 2017, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio put aside $32 million for killing rats. One of his administration's methods was to stuff rat holes with dry ice, which suffocated the rats with carbon dioxide. It proved effective, but labor intensive.

Before becoming the current mayor, Eric Adams joined his rat-hunting predecessors when he touted a new rat-killing method involving a bucket called an Ekomille that lured rats in before covering them in poison. Each Ekomille could kill up to 30 rats.

One of Mayor Eric Adams’ lauded rat traps known as an “Ekomille.”Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Before becoming the current mayor, Eric Adams joined his rat-hunting predecessors when he touted a new rat-killing method involving a bucket called an Ekomille that lured rats in before covering them in poison. Each Ekomille could kill up to 30 rats.

Over the years, concerned residents have also formed organizations to hunt rats using trained dogs.

Richard Reynolds with other members of the volunteer R.A.T.S. squad in lower Manhattan.Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Some individuals, like Manuel Rodriguez, known by his neighbors as "M-Rod," have taken to killing rats on their own. But these are local efforts to solve a citywide problem.

Manuel Rodriquez holds up a dead rat in 2004.Ken Murray/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

Some individuals, like Manuel Rodriguez, known by his neighbors as "M-Rod," have taken to killing rats on their own. But these are local efforts to solve a citywide problem.

The situation in New York deteriorated during the pandemic. Rats took to the streets in what looked like increasing numbers as more garbage was left out — and for longer — due to outdoor dining regulations and fewer garbage collections.

A rat runs across a sidewalk in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on December 2, 2019.Carlo Allegri/Reuters

The situation in New York deteriorated during the pandemic. Rats took to the streets in what looked like increasing numbers as more garbage was left out — and for longer — due to outdoor dining regulations and fewer garbage collections.

While health experts mostly consider rats as a nuisance, they also carry diseases, and because they get so close to humans, they are good at transmitting them.

Manuel Rodriquez swings at a rat outside his apartment in 2004.Ken Murray/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

According to the Health Department's Rat Academy, there's only one way to stop the rats — starve them. But in a city like New York, where the streets are often lined with trash, that's easier said than done.

A rat walks on a fence towards a garbage can as it hunts for food in Bogardus Plaza in Tribeca on August 17, 2022, in New York City.Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

According to the Health Department's Rat Academy, there's only one way to stop the rats — starve them. But in a city like New York, where the streets are often lined with trash, that's easier said than done.

If nothing else, New Yorkers can reassure themselves that it could be worse — they could live in Chicago, which, according to pest control company Orkin, was the most rat-infested city in the US last year.

A dead rat sits on the street outside Marshall Field Garden Apartments in Chicago, rated the most rat infested city in the US by Orkin in 2022.Martha Irvine/AP

If nothing else, New Yorkers can reassure themselves that it could be worse — they could live in Chicago, which, according to pest control company Orkin, was the most rat-infested city in the US last year.

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How the rat population in New York City grew by 800% and infested the city in less than 65 years

About 250 years ago, the Norwegian rat — also known as the brown rat, the alley rat or the sewer rat — arrived in America on ships from Europe. No one knows when the first rat made it ashore, but experts are fairly sure they came during the American Revolution.

Even if only a few made it over, rats breed rapidly. They live for about two years but are sexually mature within two months, mate within 2 seconds, and can produce eight to 10 babies about six times a year — that's 120 rats for each rat mother during their lifetime.

They're not soft and cuddly either, like mice or squirrels. As Fordham University biologist Dr Jason Munshi-South told The New York Times, they're rough and mean. They fight each other.

Rats are agile and able to jump 3 feet high and 4 feet across. But their speed and agility aren't the only reasons why they're master escape artists. Each of their many burrows usually has three exits, a primary one and two escape routes.

The widest part of the brown rat is the skull, meaning if its head can fit into a hole or space, it can — and will — get in there.

Rats first made headlines in New York City in 1860 for reportedly mutilating and killing a newborn child, and again in 1865 when The New York Times said the city was getting a reputation for having more rats "than any other city in the Union."

In 1950, there were an estimated 250,000 rats in the city. Since then, there have been a few wildly varying estimates, including one in 1997 claiming there were 28 million rats. But more conservatively, in 2014, there were an estimated 2 million rats in the city.

But the rats have since spread out. In 1974, rats only covered an estimated 10% of the city. Experts now think up to 90% of the city is rat-infested.

But rats don't stray too far from their home base. The rats you see in the morning could be the same rats you see at night — they rarely go more than 660 feet from wherever they live.

The early 1970s played a crucial role in the increase in rat populations in the city. First, the federal government passed the Federal Clean Air Act 1970, which led to New York City banning apartment buildings using incinerators to destroy trash.

Second, the city introduced plastic rubbish bags in 1971. Instead of metal trash cans, rats could suddenly eat all the trash they wanted, and there was more of it, too, since it wasn't being burned anymore.

The other factor was climate change. Rats don't hibernate in the winter, but their reproduction cycle slows since it's harder for them to find food. As winters have gotten warmer, they have been able to breed more.

Even so, according to E. Randy Dupree, one of New York's former "master rat hunters," the fight was going pretty good between 1969 and 1986 when the city implemented a three-pronged approach: extermination, education and clean-up.

From 1987 to 1996, New York's rat budget fell from $12 million to $5 million. The three-pronged approach to fight the infestation was no longer affordable. "The rats began to win the war," Dupree told The New York Times.

Over the last few decades, New York mayors have tried to take up the mantle. In 1997, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani put aside $8 million and created an extermination task force, which used three different types of poisons to kill rats.

In 2017, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio put aside $32 million for killing rats. One of his administration's methods was to stuff rat holes with dry ice, which suffocated the rats with carbon dioxide. It proved effective, but labor intensive.

Before becoming the current mayor, Eric Adams joined his rat-hunting predecessors when he touted a new rat-killing method involving a bucket called an Ekomille that lured rats in before covering them in poison. Each Ekomille could kill up to 30 rats.

Over the years, concerned residents have also formed organizations to hunt rats using trained dogs.

Some individuals, like Manuel Rodriguez, known by his neighbors as "M-Rod," have taken to killing rats on their own. But these are local efforts to solve a citywide problem.

The situation in New York deteriorated during the pandemic. Rats took to the streets in what looked like increasing numbers as more garbage was left out — and for longer — due to outdoor dining regulations and fewer garbage collections.

While health experts mostly consider rats as a nuisance, they also carry diseases, and because they get so close to humans, they are good at transmitting them.

According to the Health Department's Rat Academy, there's only one way to stop the rats — starve them. But in a city like New York, where the streets are often lined with trash, that's easier said than done.

If nothing else, New Yorkers can reassure themselves that it could be worse — they could live in Chicago, which, according to pest control company Orkin, was the most rat-infested city in the US last year.