A recent study published in Science Advances reveals a drastic increase in rat populations in various cities globally, with notable surges in Washington DC (390%), San Francisco (300%), Toronto (186%), and New York City (162%). The research analyzed data from 16 cities and found significant trends in 11. Lead researcher Jonathan Richardson suggests that these trends can be expected in many other cities. Toronto faces a surge exacerbated by factors like construction and floods, contributing to increased public and pest control calls about rat infestations.
In Toronto, one of the worst-affected locations, a perfect rat storm has taken hold, with residents of Canada's biggest city staring down a surging population.
Increasingly we're flushing them out into open spaces either through construction or floods and they have to go somewhere.
Over the past decade, rats increased by 390% in Washington DC, 300% in San Francisco, and 186% in Toronto.
Researchers said the findings would apply to many similar cities around the world, indicating no reason to expect a different trend in other urban areas.
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