A study in 16 big cities found that rat populations are growing where it’s getting warmer the fastest. Researchers checked complaints about rats in cities to understand how populations are changing.
Data from 13 US cities, Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Toronto showed rat numbers dropping in New Orleans, Louisville, and Tokyo. The number stayed the same in Dallas and St. Louis, but went up in other cities, especially in Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York, and Amsterdam.
The study linked rising rat numbers to higher temperatures, more urban areas, and crowded human populations. Cold cities see fewer rats in winter and more in summer, so as the planet warms, rat populations go up too.
Having more rats in cities means a bigger risk of diseases like leptospirosis. Cities need to control rat numbers by making it harder for them to find food. New York is already trying this out in some areas, and it’s making a difference.
This study highlights the need for cities to act to handle rat populations as the Earth gets warmer.
Vocabulary List:
- Populations /ˌpɒp.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz/ (noun): The number of inhabitants in a particular area or group.
- Rising /ˈraɪ.zɪŋ/ (adjective): Increasing in amount number or rate.
- Urban /ˈɜː.bən/ (adjective): Related to a city or town.
- Leptospirosis /ˌlɛp.təʊ.spɪˈrəʊ.sɪs/ (noun): A bacterial disease that can cause severe health issues.
- Control /kənˈtrəʊl/ (verb): To manage or regulate the behavior or actions of something.
- Highlight /ˈhaɪ.laɪt/ (verb): To make something stand out or to emphasize its importance.
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