At the end of January, Central Oregon Daily News’ website posted an article titled: “More rodents infesting cities; scientists say warmer temperatures mean more rat babies.” Here are some takeaways from that article:
Only three cities saw significant decreasing trends — New Orleans, Louisville and Tokyo — with the home of Mardi Gras showing the biggest drop in rat reporting. Experts said the Louisiana city can teach others how to combat the rat problem.
Researchers did a statistical analysis of the rising rat reporting in those cities and concluded that slightly more than 40% of the trend seen is due to warming temperatures from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. And that comes down to sex and food, said study lead author Jonathan Richardson, a biologist at the University of Richmond.
“We’re seeing these increasing trends in rats in cities that are warming the fastest, probably because this is a small mammal that has physiological challenges in the cold weather months,” Richardson said. “If we’re warming the climate and winter starts a week or two later and spring arrives a week or two earlier, that’s one, two, maybe even three or four weeks across the entire year where those rats can be above ground foraging, acquiring more food and maybe squeezing out one or two more reproductive cycles. ”
An extra month may not sound like much, but female rats can have a litter every month. Each litter is eight to 16 baby rats, Richardson said: “That is a recipe for accelerated population growth.”
Researchers pointed to two other big statistical links — that fit with known biological issues — behind more rat reports: the increase in urbanization and more densely populated cities.
Rats like the built-up environment and being near people and their waste, the study and outside scientists said. They essentially eat at the same table as humans, multiple experts said.
If you are looking for help to reduce the chances of rats having babies on your property, or help with any kind of rodent pest control needs, then you are welcome to contact us or book your online appointment here: