"If they're outside rats living in a park or something, and it's cold, they stop mating, he said resulting in fewer rats than usual come spring. An estimated 3 million rats live in New York, or one for every three people, and for many residents they represent a constant menace: rustling around in trash bags, bursting out from basements to scurry across sidewalks."
"It's just the nookie that they refrain from. It's just too dangerous to have a litter of 10 pups who don't have fur. When the mom goes out to get some food, they're subject to hypothermia, Corrigan said. So the smart thing is: don't have a litter."
"They originated in Mongolia and northern China, Corrigan said, so the grown ones are well equipped to deal with the cold. He said rats will stock up on food in their subterranean burrows, creating little pantries to sustain them during extreme cold."
New York City hosts approximately 3 million rats, with one rat for every three people. The city's recent severe winter, featuring snow and historic freezing temperatures, may cause a temporary decline in the rat population. Rats stop mating during extreme cold because newborn pups lack fur and face hypothermia risk when mothers leave to forage. Although rats originating from Mongolia and northern China are well-equipped for cold through food storage in underground burrows, they prioritize survival over reproduction during harsh conditions. The city has invested millions in rat control efforts, including appointing a rat czar and implementing trash containerization. Recent data shows rat sighting reports have declined monthly for 14 months, indicating progress in population management.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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