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Reuters is reporting that today New York was named "the U.S. city most vulnerable to a rat attack as warmer weather and aging infrastructure fuels rodent populations across the United States." At least we don't have to worry about earthquakes (yet)?
Rodent management consultants Dale Kaukeinen and Bruce Colvin (self nicknamed the "rat pack") have determined this by assessing the rat problem in different areas. They look at 14 risks factors, including: age of infrastructure, population size, climate, and waste management.
The rodent dream team say it's impossible to determine how many rats are living amongst us, but they confirm that the urban myth that there are six rats to every human in New York is in fact a myth. Still, the reality isn't very good, they deliver the down n' dirty facts:
"But we know that a female rat can have a litter every three weeks of 10 to 12 young, so even with mortalities you probably get 50 new rats a year from one female," he said.Others cities in the Top 10: Houston, Boston, Philly, Washington, DC and Chicago. In Denver cases of the bubonic plague have even been reported! The study is meant to urge cities to take a pro-active approach against rats. Hear that Peter Luger? But we doubt this problem will end until there's a world without New Yorkers (according to Alan Weisman they'd never survive without our heated buildings and garbage)!"If half of those are female you can see that if you have a garbage strike the rat population will explode. Cities are so vulnerable and need to give this priority."
Photo via lillery on Flickr.
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are we talking about all the super rats that think women are nothing but Ho's to be attacked!?
the city will continue to struggle with rats as long as it has the most archaic trash collection system in the developed world.
dumping trash in plastic bags on the street waiting overnight for a truck to come around and collect them is hardly more advanced than what the romans did 2000 years ago.
if you go to cities such as paris, you will notice that trash is kept in specialized bins on wheels that are impervious to rats, that keep all the trash out of sight and out of the elements (rain) and are designed to be picked up and emptied out by arms on the trucks.
until we have this kind of technology, we will continue to be overrun by rats. its really very frustrating and embarrassing to live here in so much filth.
we are only small steps ahead of third world standards in this, the so called center of the universe. more like the asshole of the universe.
This goes perfect with
http://bravia.sony.eu/bravia.html
(sorry for the plug)
Forget rats. At least they're mammals, intelligent, and try to run away when they see you.
I'm more worried about bed bugs. I HATE BED BUGS. They are the new scourge. THEY FUCKING SUCK YOUR BLOOD AND WON'T EVER DIE.
ever since i saw ratatouille i get excited when i see a rat and shout 'Lil Chef!!!!'
guest #5...
They're vermin. They don't talk, read, cook, clean or idolize celebrity chefs.
It's us against them.
no, #6, we're vermin!
I don't mind when I see them on the subway tracks, but yesterday I saw a huge one actually on the platform at the Woodhaven Blvd station on Queens Boulevard.
again... are we talking about the harrasment women are subject to by SUPER RATS? they are every where, subway, corners, trucks!!!, everywhere!