Rat Infestation Taking<br />Over New York City According to reports, rat sightings soared<br />nearly 38% in 2018 in comparison to 2014. 17,353 rat sightings were reported in 2018,<br />and the number of city health inspections that<br />found active signs of rats nearly doubled to 30,874. Gentrification is sited as a main cause of<br />the growing number of rats, as construction<br />is forcing more rats into the open. Climate change also plays a role, as the<br />milder winters makes it easier for rats<br />to survive and reproduce. However, the biggest factor is the city's trash<br />collection, as bags are left curbside for hours,<br />making them easily accessible to rats. In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a<br />$32 million plan to increase litter basket<br />pickups and deploy rat-resistant steel cans. Although the plan saw fleeting success, deputy<br />Mayor of Operations Laura Anglin said the city is<br />still actively taking action against the infestation. Laura Anglin,<br />via New York Times The top areas for rat sighting complaints are<br />the Upper West Side, Prospect Heights,<br />Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick.
