How many times, when you were calmly walking in the streets or any place where you frequent, suddenly a rat appears and you don’t know what to do and just leave running or begin to scream. Many rats are recorded byfor people in streets at night and even in the morning in garbage, in debris and even in people’s homes. 

The infamous rat problem in New York City is a persistent issue with disastrous consequences: rats can spread disease, devastate property, and create fear in even the heartiest New Yorker. With a long history in the city and an even longer list of potential dangers, it’s time to investigate the issue of rats in New York City and understand why its population has reached epidemic proportions.

Rats are a general nuisance in New York City, representing a major public health hazard and aesthetic annoyance. Dark-colored, large-tailed rodents can often be seen darting across sidewalks and pathways, or crawling under park benches and car tires.

The problem of rats in the city is, unfortunately, a growing one and these unwelcome animals are “associated with a plethora of diseases, ranging from typhus, to leptospirosis, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety”. In addition, they also possess a tendency to rage uncontrollably within walls and ceilings and gnaw through wires, which, if not addressed, increases the likelihood of a home fire.

Swift and communal action is needed to resolve the problem of rats in the streets of New York City. To begin, the city’s waste and rodent control system requires urgent improvement and restructuring. The addition of more dumpsters, more frequent garbage collection, and increased usage of rodenticide are all measures that could help reduce the number of rats.

Therefore, local community organizations, from business owners to religious establishments, should work towards staging clean-up efforts and enforcing more stringent regulations of dumping.

According to Insider,  “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.” ThIs shows that the rats population is greatly increasing and it is an alarmant notice, since in decades, almost centuries we wouldn’t control their expansion and they took control of New York streets. The rats population currently is taking domain over 90% of New York, that means that the rats are actually wherever you walk carrying the possibility 

Additionally, based on GEI,  “It has been estimated that rodents cause up to 20 percent of undetermined fires in the United States each year.” It is clear that rats may be a potential fire hazard. Government should monitor rodent populations in areas that are susceptible to fire. “Rats chew wires to grind down their teeth, which never stop growing. This can cause electrical problems and create a serious fire hazard.” This quote explains why most of the fires occur because rats bite electrical cables since they need to control the growth of their teeth because they grow very quickly, and when rats do this they produce dead circuits in the cables and consequently causing fires. Therefore, it is important that people  are aware of the potential for fires caused by rats and take preventative measures to reduce the risk.

In addition, Columbia University scientists made many discoveries, “In the lab, targeted molecular assays confirmed the presence of 15 of the 20 bacterial and protozoan pathogens they looked for and one virus: Seoul hantavirus was present in eight rats. It is the first time the virus has been documented in New York City, and genetic clues suggest that it may be a recent arrival.” This shows that these small rodents are drivers of many diseases and are carriers of new ones that are spreading throughout the city, increasing the chances of infecting people with these dangerous diseases creating an unhealthy environment.  Leaders must begin to take action on the matter and create organizations that specialize in treating these small but very dangerous animals and establish goals such as reducing the growth of the rodent population throughout the country and if possible exterminate them.

In summary, the presence of rats in the streets of New York City is a legitimate problem for residents, as these animals can not only bring health risks, but can be a real nuisance. A collaborative approach is needed to address the issue at source, to ensure that they are not simply pushed to another borough or neighborhood.

With dedicated effort, greater education and restructuring of both the city’s waste management and rodent control service, New York City could make huge strides in reducing the population of rats on its streets.