A 2025 study found significant upward trends in rat reports in 11 of 16 cities it examined. The increases were associated with rising temperatures, urbanization and denser human populations—but the study analyzed rats, not mice, and used complaint and inspection records rather than a uniform census. It points to a practical lesson for pest control: lasting results depend on reducing food and shelter and blocking entry, not relying on poison or trapping alone.
What the evidence says about rising rat numbers
In a study published January 31, 2025, researchers analyzed public complaints and municipal inspection records from 16 cities. They found significant increasing trends in rat numbers in 11 cities, or 69%; three cities showed declines. The measure was reported activity in city records, not a direct, standardized count of all rats.
The authors reported that larger increases were associated with greater temperature increases, more urbanization and denser human populations. These are associations, not proof that one factor caused a particular city’s trend. Complaint rates and inspection practices differ, and the cities and time periods in the dataset do not represent every region. The study in Science Advances explains its data and methods.
Why warmer, denser cities may support more rats
The study authors suggest that warmer conditions may extend the season when rats are active and increase food availability. Urban areas also provide dependable sources of food and places to shelter. Refuse, food scraps and gaps in buildings can make a block or property more hospitable even when broader city trends vary.
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- HOLDS BAIT AND TRAPS - Fits 8 x 1 oz bait Chunx (2 per rod) or 2 Snap Traps and a Rat Snap Trap (BAIT NOT INCLUDED)
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This does not establish that climate change alone explains rat reports, or that every city will see the same outcome. It does indicate why pest control has to address conditions that sustain rodents, as well as the animals already present.
What the study does—and does not—say about mice
The 2025 analysis concerns rats in selected cities. It does not establish a rising global trend for mice, and its findings should not be generalized to all rodents. Local patterns can differ by species and setting: New York City Health describes rats outdoors and in basements, while mice are commonly found inside buildings. That is useful local guidance, not a worldwide comparison.
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Why rodent activity matters for buildings and residents
Rodents can damage property, crops and food supplies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says they may spread disease through bites, contaminated food or water, contaminated dust, or infected ticks, mites and fleas. Exposure and risk vary; seeing a rodent does not mean someone has contracted a disease. In New York City, health guidance also identifies food contamination, infrastructure damage and neighborhood stress as concerns. Mouse urine and dander can aggravate asthma symptoms in sensitive people.
For construction and property maintenance, the building envelope and site conditions matter: openings, accessible refuse and sheltered clutter can help sustain activity or provide routes indoors. Addressing these conditions is part of control, not merely a repair after rodents appear.
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What effective pest control should prioritize
The study authors favor integrated pest management (IPM), which combines prevention, monitoring and targeted control. They write: “The most promising integrated pest management (IPM) strategies focus on making the urban environment less conducive for rats rather than outright removal of rats already there.” Their recommendations include better waste management, exclusion, surveillance, education and coordinated control. They also note that rodenticide-heavy efforts have limited long-term success and can harm non-target wildlife.
For households: remove food, shelter and access
- Store food and waste in hard-sided containers with tight-fitting lids, and clean up food scraps that could attract rodents.
- Seal cracks and holes that could provide entry, including gaps around building openings and service penetrations.
- Clear outdoor clutter that can provide shelter or nesting material.
- Use traps as one control measure when rodents are active, while continuing prevention and monitoring. CDC guidance in its published search-result excerpt advises continuing to trap until activity stops; trapping does not replace removing attractants or closing entry points.
EPA rodenticide and rodent-control guidance covers prevention and control considerations, while NYC Health’s rat and mouse guidance offers local prevention advice. For a persistent problem, activity in multiple parts of a building, or signs beyond one property, a professional inspection can help identify entry routes and conditions that need coordinated attention.
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For property managers and cities: coordinate the work
- Reduce accessible refuse and food waste through reliable waste handling.
- Improve building exclusion and repair practices so rodents have fewer routes inside.
- Remove harborage, monitor activity and educate residents about prevention.
- Use targeted lethal and nonlethal control as part of an ongoing plan rather than treating poison as a stand-alone solution.
Because rodents move through shared urban spaces, control can falter when one property removes them but nearby food sources, shelter or access remain. Coordinated surveillance and participation across properties and municipal services address those conditions more directly than isolated removal efforts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Rodent Station: Effectively keep rats, mice, and other rodents from entering your home, safeguarding your property, food, plants, wires, and more from gnawing damage.
- Key Unlock Design: Each station includes a dedicated safety key to prevent accidental opening by children or pets.
- Corner-Adapted Design: The triangular design with optimized internal pathways matches rodents' natural movement patterns and installs flush against any wall corner.
- Durable Construction: Made of high-strength, weather-resistant plastic—sturdy, scratch-proof, washable, and reusable for long-term protection.
- Indoor & Outdoor Use: Ideal for kitchens, bedrooms, warehouses, gardens, garages, and more (includes bottom screw holes for secure mounting)
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