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New York City is known for doing things bigger than everyone else. They had the tallest building in America until September 11, they have incredible theater, the largest subway system, and the most populous metropolitan area in the country. It seems like everything in New York is done bigger than anywhere else.



Unfortunately, this seems to be the problem with the rats of this city as well. New York’s rats have become larger over time, making some, jokingly, think that they are the new dog in the area. They are simply getting that large.

So, what is the cause of the fact that New York’s rats are getting larger than they used to be? What stands behind it is the fact that New York City itself may be at the root of why these rodents have become so big.

If you think about it, the same things that attract people to want to come to New York the rats. There is sensational food in the city, which offers an assortment and diversity that is unlike any other city on the planet. While a large portion of this food is consumed by people in the city every day, a significant amount of it is still thrown away. This winds up in dumpsters, garbage cans, and also on city streets.

To the rats, this is the ultimate in buffet. They can get pretty much any kind of food they want any time of day. Not only is the city known as North America’s largest in terms of population, but it is also the city that has the largest amount of garbage that is produced. This means that there is plenty of food to eat. No matter how many rats are living in the city, they are fed well.

In addition, the massive sewer system and huge high-rises offer the great opportunity for rats to find a home. Not just for one or two rats at a time. There is the ability for rats to live together in huge colonies in the thousands.

When you look at these two key factors on what can reduce population and decrease longevity, it is easy to see why the rats are getting so much bigger. They are fed well and have ample places to stay, this makes it so that they are healthier and in better physical condition than ever before. That condition offers them the opportunity to grow bigger as they eat better and live longer.

Just as the conditions for human beings can make it so that they will grow bigger and be healthier, this is what is happening with the rats of New York City as well. Sadly, this is not a trend that is likely to go in the other direction. As New York continues to be one of the most prosperous cities on earth, people continually live well and eat well. Their garbage will continue to make it so that the rats live well, as well. So just get used to it New Yorkers!

About the Rat Problem in New York City

Wherever you will find rats, you will find people. That's the way of the world these days, and we have actually allowed this situation to happen. People make mess and rats eat mess. Not just rats either, but many wild animals, most of which are known to be scavengers. They might very well be nature's cleaner-upper's, but it seems they have forgotten their job. Rather than focusing on cleaning up garbage and road kill — their version of food — they're stealing OUR version of food. That's what entices rats into human residences and heavily populated areas in their drones.



Being quite shy and cautious creatures, it has been virtually impossible to calculate exactly how many rats there are in New York City, but experts do predict the amount to be huge. It was once believed that there were four times as many rats as there were people, but predictions suggest this figure could be a little too high. There are close to 9 million people living in New York City, and that would mean 36,000,000 rats. The figure is estimated to be a lot closer to 2 million, which isn't great, but is a lot better than 36 million, right?

The majority of rats in New York City are brown rats, also known as the Norway rat. These rats can grow to quite large lengths, but they aren't quite as close to cat-size, which you may have read in social media accounts. It is very rare for rats to grow to quite that size, although males can still weigh 350 grams and more, females slightly smaller at 250 grams. Despite being this big, they still need only the smallest of spaces to get into human habitats and commercial buildings, and this is what has made them such a successful species. Grab a quarter from your purse or pocket. That's all the hole a rat needs to squeeze into your home, and mice need even smaller spaces than this.

As well as being very unsightly and an animal that most homeowners would rather not have in their abode, rats can also be very dangerous in terms of disease. They carry a number of pathogens, many of which have been proven to cause disease and viruses in both humans and other animals alike, and these diseases can also be passed on in a number of ways. Water and food sources can be contaminated with rat feces and urine, and their saliva is also just as disease-ridden. Even the dead carcass of a rat isn't safe. Any biological rat matter should be considered as dangerous and most definitely should not be touched with unprotected hands. Gloves are a must when you are dealing with any kind of wild animal intruder!

For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does rat removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of rats - my main rat removal info guide.
Example rat trapping photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas.
Rat job blog - learn from great examples of rat jobs I've done.<