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Original poster

Rats in New York

44 replies

newyorktrip · 17/12/2021 11:44

I have NCed for this.

I saw a story on the BBC news website yesterday about how many rats there are in NYC at the moment. It's really worried me as I have a holiday in New York booked and have a massive rat phobia.
I have been to New York before, a few times in fact, but ages ago, and have only seen one dead rat. I know New York is famous for rats but I haven't seen them just running about.

Is any who's in New York or who has been recently able to tell me what it's like please? Am I likely to see rats if I go or is the BBC picking out a few isolated incidents?

OP posts:
chipsandpeas · 17/12/2021 11:46

ive never saw a rat any time ive been in new york and was there last 3 weeks ago
saw more rats in one night in paris

Queenoftheashes · 17/12/2021 11:47

I never saw a rat in New York. Saw quite a few living in SE London.

XiCi · 17/12/2021 11:49

I didn't see any in the day but coming home from a bar in the early hours of the morning when it was quieter the streets near my hotel were literally teeming with them.

XiCi · 17/12/2021 11:51

That was Lower East Side.

CounsellorTroi · 17/12/2021 11:54

I saw a rat a couple of weeks ago running across my local Tesco car park.

Jabbawasarollingstone · 17/12/2021 11:56

I live and work in London and have seen tons. Also, mice are everywhere.

Paris also has a lot of rats, especially along the river.

I wouldn't worry, but it depends on your ick tolerance.

XiCi · 17/12/2021 11:57

I've seen lone rats locally but at night in NY, that was something else, just the amount of them. I've never seen anything like it and I've travelled a lot

antisocialsocialclub · 17/12/2021 11:58

Hi OP I spent a week in New York just before Lockdown 1 and never saw a rat or anything like that.

I did however see many rats in Paris, down by the river and unfortunately for me, in the public loo I went in.

Meadowbreeze · 17/12/2021 12:01

I last went in Oct 2019 and really didn't see that many. I only remember one when waiting for the subway. Their subway is disgusting though. Cockroaches on the other hand... felt like I was in Spain.
I feel like London has a bigger rat problem in all honesty.

Original poster
newyorktrip · 17/12/2021 12:02

Ok thanks. That's a mixed picture.
I'm going to see if I can deal with my phobia a bit before I go.

OP posts:
Longdistance · 17/12/2021 12:05

I’ve seen rats and mice happily scuttling near the tracks of the underground. Didn’t see any in NY when I was there.

TorySteller · 17/12/2021 13:28

I know it sounds flippant but I think you’ll be fine.

I’ve been to NY four times in the last six years, most recently in 2019. I’ve only seen one rat, in a subway station.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 18/12/2021 18:32

I live in New York and don't see rats that often. Mostly just on the subway tracks. They're not just mooching down 5th Avenue in broad daylight or anything.

squashyhat · 18/12/2021 18:50

I've been 4 times and only seen one once - a rather well-fed looking fellow on a subway platform.

Original poster
newyorktrip · 18/12/2021 18:50

allfurcoatnoknickers thank you. That's very comforting. I know I'm ridiculous but it's really worrying me.

OP posts:
NotAnotherCrapHamper · 18/12/2021 19:30

Was the same in the UK in the summer- saw loads of rats with outdoor eating.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 18/12/2021 19:33

I saw a huge one running along the platform on the subway in NYC
Have also seen one in an office in London
Once in my garden and more recently running across a carpark in the local retail park
They are everywhere
I hate them too !

CouldThisReallyBe · 18/12/2021 19:35

I know this is different but before my DS (then 18) and I went to Australia he was panic stricken about all he'd heard about the spiders (size, volume, deadliness). During the course of a month he never saw one spider.

OP I think rats are in all big cities where there is a river and rubbish. I don't think it's just a New York thing. Try not to read too many scare stories and enjoy it.

WoodburnersRUs · 18/12/2021 19:37

Once in Central Park, under my bench - on the UES edge / entrance and some in the subway but not worse than London. Wouldn’t have noticed them if I hadn’t been on my own at the time. Plenty to distract in NYC!

GreyTS · 18/12/2021 19:39

Was in New York a few weeks ago and saw 2 rats in 3 days.....one ran across the path in front of us in Washington square park and there was one on top of a bin on 5th avenue but it's pretty much to be expected in any major city

AnnaSW1 · 18/12/2021 19:39

Good job you don't live in London!!!

JaneJeffer · 18/12/2021 19:41

They do say you're never more than 6 feet away from a rat!

Covidclaire · 18/12/2021 19:41

I saw massive rats running along the pavement when I lived in NYC about 15 years ago. There’s also an urban myth that a woman once put her bag down on the floor of the subway carriage and when she got home there was a rat in her bag.

At least I assume it’s an urban myth. Who would put their bag down on the subway floor?!

Totalwasteofpaper · 18/12/2021 19:49

Honestly, just do not go on the subway.

I was unlucky i'm sure, but the first time I used it I was on a carriage and as a woman boarded a cockroach fell onto her loose hair Shock
The second time there was a rat IN the carriage. Envy

After that I walked everywhere as the taxis are filthy. Envy Envy

I always bring old trainers and throw them away when I leave as the streets are also flithy. EnvyEnvyEnvy

I'm not a massive fan of NYC, can you tell?

Original poster
newyorktrip · 18/12/2021 21:11

Annasw1 I actually lived n London for a short while and go quite frequently and have only seen one rat. I've seen a few mice on the tube tracks.

OP posts: