In case you missed it earlier this year, New York City has officially declared war on its exploding rat population. This brave step forward fixes a long-time challenge that’s annoyed locals and tourists alike. As the most densely populated city in the US with an estimated 8.5 million residents, the city offers a perfect habitat for rats to flourish. The comprehensive effort uses a variety of cutting-edge approaches. The goal of the legislation was to get ahead of the growing number of complaints reporting rat infestations that have multiplied during recent years.
Rats breed like rabbits, re-populating at an incredible rate. Each female can breed five to seven times a year with as many as 12 pups in each litter. This prolific breeding is made worse by the city’s incredible amount of food sources. Rats only require about one ounce of food per day in order to live. This low requirement means they can flourish on trash, such as takeout and expired grocery store goods and food waste from recycling bins. Complaints about rat sightings fell by 25% in 2024, as compared to the year prior. This decrease is encouraging news for city leaders and Baltimore residents alike!
Innovative Approaches in Harlem
New York City has been making a serious effort to address the chronic citywide rat issue. In Harlem, where these voracious nuisances have shown an alarming aptitude for adaptation, the city is piloting a range of approaches. The city is working with several different tools to combat their rat population. Simultaneously, they’re increasing awareness among residents on how to better help fight these pesky vermin. Thousands of building managers and residents have already participated in training sessions. These sessions provide tips on controlling waste and reducing rat food sources.
“Lately, I haven’t felt that I have to run in between the mounds of trash to run away from rats because they have those new (sealed trash) containers.” – Karen Del Aguila
One important aspect of this initiative is looking at the eating habits of rats. Now, city officials are taking samples of all food categories 12 months a year. They’re looking to determine which bait is most effective at repelling rats. Through continuous collection of this data, Wildlife Services can tailor their strategies for managing their population by reducing their available food sources.
“Remove their food source… So make it harder for them, then they’re going to have to travel further to try and find something.” – Alexa Albert
The Impact of Waste Management
In 2022, New York City kicked off its own “trash revolution,” with plans to deploy the sealed containers citywide. This initiative was designed to eliminate the traditional black bags of organic waste left on sidewalks, which often attract rats. Since the introduction of these sealed containers, residents have noticed a significant reduction in rat sightings.
“Not a long time ago, when you went to put out the trash, five of them came out.” – Jessica Sanchez
Residents are starting to feel the benefits of these improvements. Jessica Sanchez expressed her concerns about not being able to allow her son to crawl on the floor. She is worried about rampant rat activity in her community. She’s a lot more comfortable now, thanks to the continuing efforts to beat back the rats.
“I was even afraid to put my son on the floor.” – Jessica Sanchez
Representing New York City’s rat management efforts, Bragdon celebrated a downward trend. Over the years, the population of rats has consistently declined. This decline has been due to a combination of lowered breeding success and greater efforts to eliminate their food sources.
“That’s usually what we’re seeing. Fewer rats over time. Less breeding leads to less rat activity.” – Bragdon
Looking Ahead
The city’s earlier work, even before the pandemic, had held a lot of promise. In fact, several districts announced an impressive 90% decrease in the presence of rats. Though the current campaign seems to be doing the trick, officials are still wary of challenges that lie ahead. How successful the initiatives adopted in 2024 will be remains to be seen, but they could provide an important model for future years.
“So we know it can be done,” said Bragdon. “I hope 2025 would be a turnaround year.”