The Big Apple's Other Big Residents: How Many Rats Are Really in New York City?
Ah, New York City. City that never sleeps, land of dreams, and...home to a whole lotta rats. We're talking millions, folks. Millions of beady-eyed, whiskered commuters navigating the city's underbelly. But just how many are there? Buckle up, because this gets wilder than a rat chasing a rogue slice of pizza.
The Great Rat Race: Estimating the Uncountable
For years, the number of New Yorkers' furry (well, not so furry) friends has been shrouded in mystery. Legends whispered of a ratio of five rats to every human. Thankfully, a brave soul named Jonathan Auerbach, a New York statistician with a serious case of curiosity (and maybe a touch of rat-tling envy?), decided to crack the code.
Auerbach used fancy math (algorithms, not abacuses, people) and analyzed data on complaints and sightings. His conclusion? A cool 2 million rats scurrying around the city in 2010. But that was then, this is now.
Enter M&M Pest Control: The Pied Pipers of Population Numbers
Fast forward to 2023, and M&M Pest Control, the real-life Ghostbusters of the rat world, decided to update Auerbach's calculations. Their findings? Brace yourselves...New York City is home to an estimated 3 MILLION RATS! That's right, folks. Enough rats to fill Yankee Stadium...multiple times.
So, what does this mean?
Well, for one, it dispels the myth of the five-to-one ratio. We can all breathe a sigh of relief (unless you're particularly fond of rats, in which case, maybe seek professional help?). But 3 million is still a significant number. These little guys are resourceful, adaptable, and masters of squeezing through the tiniest cracks. In short, they're not going anywhere.
Fun fact: The dominant rat species in NYC is the brown rat, also known as the Norway rat. So, next time you see one scurrying by, feel free to give it a friendly (and socially distanced) shout-out to its Norwegian cousins.
How to Deal with NYC's Rat Reality?
Here are some quick tips for coexisting with our whiskered neighbors:
FAQs:
- How to avoid attracting rats? Keep your place clean! Don't leave food scraps lying around, and seal up any potential entry points in your home.
- How to get rid of rats in your home? If you have a rat problem, call a professional exterminator. Don't try to be a hero – these guys are wily.
- How to befriend a rat? Probably not the best idea. They're cute from afar, but wild animals are best left wild.
- How many slices of pizza can a New York City rat eat? Research is inconclusive, but we're guessing at least two...fold.
- How to tell the difference between a rat and a really big mouse? Size is a good indicator. Rats are generally bigger than mice. Also, rats have blunter noses and smaller eyes. But if you're unsure, best to err on the side of caution and call it a rat.
