Climate change is causing numerous serious effects on our planet, such as a steady rise in temperatures, but now a particularly strange consequence has been revealed. Due to climate change, the number of rats in cities may significantly increase. This claim was made in a study conducted in the United States.
The research from Richmond University warned that the number of rats in cities worldwide could rise due to climate change. Professor Jonathan Richardson, who was part of the study, decided to investigate after seeing media reports about rats taking over cities.
Professor Jonathan and his team attempted to gather data on the potential number of rats in 200 major cities in the U.S. but could only access long-term data from 13 cities. They then included three global cities, Toronto, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, in the study.
The research collected data from an average of 12 years across these cities, comparing it with sightings of rats, traps, or other reports. The findings revealed that in 11 out of 16 cities, the rat population had notably increased. Cities like Washington D.C., San Francisco, Toronto, New York, and Amsterdam saw the highest growth, while Tokyo and two other cities saw a slight decrease.
The increase in rat populations was linked to several factors, such as the rise in human population, less greenery in cities, and the most significant factor being the rise in average temperatures. According to the study, rat populations remain limited in cold weather, but warmer temperatures, especially during winter, allow rats to roam for longer periods, and their breeding rate also increases.
The study also highlighted that the growing number of rats is a significant issue for cities. Rats damage infrastructure, contaminate food, and even chew through wires, causing fires. In fact, the U.S. alone faces financial losses of $27 billion annually due to rats.
Moreover, rats pose a health threat, spreading various diseases to humans. The study also indicated increasing evidence that rats affect not just physical health but also mental health. Professor Jonathan stated that the findings are eye-opening, as the growing number of rats in a warmer world will present us with numerous challenges. He emphasized that if not controlled, the situation will only worsen.
The results of this study were published in the journal Science Advances.
