Rats in New York

[newyorktrip]

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?

@newyorktrip bloody hell I'm amazed.they're everywhere. I put my daughter's wrapper in the litter bin the other day and two massive rats jumped out. They nearly ran up my arm. I see them most days. Actually pretty much every day.

I’ve a rat phobia too (but can’t help reading about them )

Most rats I’ve seen is Venice at night

And the biggest was in the middle of the day in Knightsbridge it was huge people started screaming and jumping on their chairs (was by a cafe with tables outside) the fucker didn’t even seemed bothered it nearly ran over ds foot

They are everywhere in cities especially and it’s hard not to look out for them (I nearly always do) but they mostly do avoid humans

There’s quite a lot of exaggeration for effect on this thread. Rats don’t leap out of a bin and try to run up your arm if you throw a wrapper in.

There are rats in cities and the country. I’ve seen them in tube stations and woodland. They mostly try and avoid people but they’re bolder in cities because there are a lot more food sources and places to nest. Even then, they won’t generally come too close to you so you don’t need to worry about walking down the street.

I spent a month in New York for work a few years ago and never saw a single rat.

@Smallhedgehog yes they do. And I said nearly love

@Smallhedgehog don't overreact about what you read

[quote AnnaSW1]@Smallhedgehog don't overreact about what you read [/quote]
What are you on about?

The one I saw most recently was in a hedgerow. I scared it by crossing its path and it patiently waited until I had left to carry on. I have never understood (phobias aside) why the fuss about rats. They are just big mice.

A friend of mine saw a rat in the bread in Lidl in Camden Town 🐀

Rats occur everywhere occupied by humans ( and many places which aren't!) cities, towns, urban fringe or rural - no city or location is more, or less, attractive to rats than any other. No point pretending or thinking otherwise, and, as said by someone upthread, they are, in truth, in close proximity to us at all times, whether people notice them or not. A truly successful, intelligent, agile and able species which will, no doubt, still be around long after humans have disappeared from the planet

I doubt NY is significantly worse than London so you’ll be fine OP.

This thread is certainly convincing me that I need to do something about my phobia.

Never seen rats in NY. Plenty of cockroaches though, which I personally think are worse. It depends where you are - we had the most issues when we were renting a cheap walk-up apartment above a restaurant in Nolita, but that's not surprising really.

@Thecazelets I completely agree. They have a massive cockroach problem. I know they have a warm and humid climate in the summer but it's brutal in winter, don't know how they survive.

I go to NY a couple of times a month for work and have never seen one out on the streets. You do see them on the subway platforms though.

I lived in NYC years ago and saw plenty of rats. But I have to say I've seen more in my garden living in a very rural part of the UK. Generally, they are usually on subway platforms and tracks, so when in doubt, take the bus or a taxi.

They say that in urban areas, you are never further than 6 feet away from a rat. They are everywhere. I've seen them in London, bold as brass.

Forget about it.

[quote Meadowbreeze]@Thecazelets I completely agree. They have a massive cockroach problem. I know they have a warm and humid climate in the summer but it's brutal in winter, don't know how they survive.[/quote]
Those things would survive a nuclear holocaust unfortunately.

Don't let them put your cat in a roly poly pudding

Just stay away from Trump Tower.