NEW YORK — The recent wave of cold weather this week has prompted many residents of New York City to seek warmth in indoor spaces, and it appears the city’s rodent population is feeling the effects of the chill as well.
Temperatures dipped to around 26 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius) on Monday, with further drops to approximately 20 degrees (-7 Celsius) on Tuesday and Wednesday, marking a significant drop below the seasonal average. While New York City has avoided the brutal wind chills experienced in the Upper Midwest and the record-breaking snow in the South, this Arctic front has nonetheless taken its toll.
In particular, the cold has a unique impact on the city’s notorious rats. According to Kathleen Corradi, the city’s appointed “rat czar,” the frigid temperatures are causing stress among the rat population, prompting them to retreat into their burrows. “It’s stressing out rats. It’s putting them in their burrows,” Corradi noted. She emphasized that this presents an opportunity for city officials and pest control efforts to intensify their campaigns against these rodents during this cold spell.
The prevalent species in New York, known scientifically as Rattus norvegicus, or the Norway rat, does not enter hibernation during the winter months but experiences a decline in activity during prolonged freezing weather. As fewer people venture outdoors, the amount of refuse available for these rodents also decreases, leading to a reduction in their food sources, Corradi explained.
This combination of cold conditions and scarce food resources creates stress for rats and slows their reproduction rates, which is vital since their ability to breed frequently is one of their key advantages in thriving urban environments. Rats can reproduce several times a year whenever conditions are favorable, though their breeding peaks during warmer months.
Jason Munshi-South, an ecology professor at Drexel University who studies the rat population in New York City, noted that those rats already residing in shelters such as subway tunnels, sewers, and crawl spaces are generally able to endure the cold conditions better. Meanwhile, rats without secure hiding spots may find themselves in unexpected places, including the warmth of car engines or any available basements that haven’t been properly sealed off.
However, some rats unfortunately may not survive the extreme weather, particularly if they are already sick or undernourished. Munshi-South stated, “Harsh winters like we are having so far will keep the rat population at a lower level if we have sustained cold, freezing periods.”
According to Corradi, this presents a significant advantage for the city’s efforts to curtail the rat population before the milder weather returns.
While there is no precise tracking of the rat population, it is a widely acknowledged fact that they have long been a substantial presence in the city. Various administrations have attempted different strategies to manage or reduce the rat numbers, and current Mayor Eric Adams has been notably proactive, even tackling the issue at his own home in Brooklyn. About two years ago, he established Corradi’s role, which is officially termed the director of rodent mitigation. The administration has also implemented measures like requiring “containerization” of trash, which necessitates that residents put their waste into secure bins rather than leaving plastic bags out on curbs that attract rodents.
