Why Household Rodent Infestations Are Common In New York City
Why Household Rodent Infestations Are Common In New York City
Rodent infestations are a major concern in metropolitan areas, particularly New York. Rats are extremely prevalent for a multitude of reasons and infestations need to be handled immediately, because rodents can oftentimes carry harmful diseases or destroy property. But why are they so common in New York?
High Rat Population
The rat population in New York City is an estimated 2 million, which means that the number of rodents alone in the city makes it a hot spot for property infestation. With so many rats, it’s no wonder infestations are highly prevalent.
You can learn about the common types of rats and mice here.
Food Waste
Not only does New York have a lot of rats, but it obviously has even more people and other wildlife pests. With over 8 million residents, New York has a stunningly large population. People need to eat, which leads to lots of food consumption and thus food waste. On top of the sheer number of people, food waste has long been a concern in New York.
Residents tend to waste food and also dispose of food irresponsibly. Litter on the streets, overflowing trash cans, and trash cans made of weak material all lead to high levels of food available to rats and other pests on the streets. With how many restaurants, residencies, and subway stops there are – rodents can access food in the trash almost anywhere. This food waste lures rats and other nuisance animals like raccoons close to buildings and oftentimes even creates a safe space for them, providing nutrition and shelter near cans – because they often prefer cluttered spaces.
Density
In New York, everything is denser and more cluttered. Apartments, storage units, basements, restaurants all tend to be tighter together – which provides perfect residency for rodents, looking for such places.
The Architecture
New York is filled with iconic pre-war buildings. While these late 19th Century or early 20th Century homes often provide a great aesthetic, they are also very old. The wood is worn down, the pipes are old, there is a lack of good padding or tiling on ground or basement floors. These architectural deficiencies create physical holes of entry for rodents, making it easy for them to access the building. Rats are also known for being able to squeeze into tight-fitting spaces or leap several feet in the air. For this reason, it doesn’t require much of an opening for a rat to find its way in. Due to this, you should consider hiring a company like Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control to solve your rodent problem permanently.
Lack of Precaution
It wasn’t until fairly recently that the rat population in New York City has gained a strong public uproar. There were many decades of negligence that have served as a catalyst to the issue and conduced extra wear and tear on the buildings. While there are standards today, there are still not enough traps, precautions, or funding taking place to eliminate rodent infestations or the food waste problems that initiate the issue.
Rat Congregation
It’s not common for just one rat to live in an area by itself. Oftentimes, rats live together in groups of dozens and give birth to litters of babies. So if there is one rat, there is bound to be more close by. This is all the more reason to immediately seek help if you
believe you are experiencing a rat infestation.
From the architecture, to food waste, to the rats themselves – New York City has long battled a rodent infestation issue. But with the right steps and knowledge, it is possible to rodent-proof your property and limit the attraction of rodents.
Rodent infestations are a major concern in metropolitan areas, particularly New York. Rats are extremely prevalent for a multitude of reasons and infestations need to be handled immediately, because rodents can oftentimes carry harmful diseases or destroy property. But why are they so common in New York?
High Rat Population
The rat population in New York City is an estimated 2 million, which means that the number of rodents alone in the city makes it a hot spot for property infestation. With so many rats, it’s no wonder infestations are highly prevalent.
You can learn about the common types of rats and mice here.
Food Waste
Not only does New York have a lot of rats, but it obviously has even more people and other wildlife pests. With over 8 million residents, New York has a stunningly large population. People need to eat, which leads to lots of food consumption and thus food waste. On top of the sheer number of people, food waste has long been a concern in New York.
Residents tend to waste food and also dispose of food irresponsibly. Litter on the streets, overflowing trash cans, and trash cans made of weak material all lead to high levels of food available to rats and other pests on the streets. With how many restaurants, residencies, and subway stops there are – rodents can access food in the trash almost anywhere. This food waste lures rats and other nuisance animals like raccoons close to buildings and oftentimes even creates a safe space for them, providing nutrition and shelter near cans – because they often prefer cluttered spaces.
Density
In New York, everything is denser and more cluttered. Apartments, storage units, basements, restaurants all tend to be tighter together – which provides perfect residency for rodents, looking for such places.
The Architecture
New York is filled with iconic pre-war buildings. While these late 19th Century or early 20th Century homes often provide a great aesthetic, they are also very old. The wood is worn down, the pipes are old, there is a lack of good padding or tiling on ground or basement floors. These architectural deficiencies create physical holes of entry for rodents, making it easy for them to access the building. Rats are also known for being able to squeeze into tight-fitting spaces or leap several feet in the air. For this reason, it doesn’t require much of an opening for a rat to find its way in. Due to this, you should consider hiring a company like Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control to solve your rodent problem permanently.
Lack of Precaution
It wasn’t until fairly recently that the rat population in New York City has gained a strong public uproar. There were many decades of negligence that have served as a catalyst to the issue and conduced extra wear and tear on the buildings. While there are standards today, there are still not enough traps, precautions, or funding taking place to eliminate rodent infestations or the food waste problems that initiate the issue.
Rat Congregation
It’s not common for just one rat to live in an area by itself. Oftentimes, rats live together in groups of dozens and give birth to litters of babies. So if there is one rat, there is bound to be more close by. This is all the more reason to immediately seek help if you
believe you are experiencing a rat infestation.
From the architecture, to food waste, to the rats themselves – New York City has long battled a rodent infestation issue. But with the right steps and knowledge, it is possible to rodent-proof your property and limit the attraction of rodents.