A recent study revealed that rats of rats are catastrophically grow in large cities around the world, and a significant role in this is played by warming of temperature. Researchers analyzed the complaints of the population and the data of inspections from 16 settlements and found that in urban areas where long -term tendencies for warming are observed, a faster increase in the pest population is observed. This is the first time that a direct relationship was established between the climate change and the growth of rats,.
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Cities such as Washington, San Francisco, Toronto, New York and Amsterdam were especially affected. Jonathan l. Richardson, Associate Professor of the University of Richmond and the leading author of the study published in the journal Science Advances, said: "
Richardson’s team tracks rats of rats around the world and found that in 11 out of 16 studied cities there was a significant increase in the number of rats. Only in Tokyo, Louisville and New Orleans there was a decrease. The factors contributing to this growth include an increase in the population density in cities, the growth of urbanization and longer heat periods that expand the capabilities of rats for food extraction. Richardson explained that the warmer temperatures allow rats to remain above the ground, which leads to an earlier onset of puberty in females and more frequent and large marks.
Researchers noted that life next to the growing number of rats has a psychological effect on people, in addition to the very fact of their presence. In addition, it is known that rats distribute more than 50 zoone pathogens and parasites, representing a serious health hazard. The fight against these populations is becoming an increasingly difficult task for cities, and annual costs of combating rats are estimated at $ 500 million. In New York alone, in 2023, one investigation of journalists showed that the number of rats increased by more than 7% since the administration of the mayor Eric Adams began its "
Despite the efforts made, rats are still difficult to control due to their intelligence and the ability to adapt. Richardson admitted that in the field of combating pests, people who are devoted to their business work, but at the same time emphasized that he faces a difficult task: "
The authors of the study concluded that an effective fight against rodents will need to increase municipal financing, additional personnel and complex strategies to destroy them. It is not enough traditional extermination methods alone, and cities should focus on eliminating environmental conditions that allow rats to prosper. In addition to cities mentioned in the study, world city centers are also struggling with the invasion of rats, aggravated by climate change.
In the report of centers for the control and prevention of diseases, scientists said that warmer winters contribute to a sustainable propagation cycle of rats, which complicates the fight against the invasion.
In addition, floods caused by climate change, make rats go out of underground holes into the premises occupied by people, which further increases the number of cases of their interaction with us.
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