How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom 🐀

[@inappropriatejohnson]

Fact: here in rural Arizona we don't have ANY Asian Brown Rats. Too many snakes, coyotes, hawks, and owls. And other native rodents that are tough enough to actually make it here.

[@MrHugemoth]

Never seen a rat here in central Oregon either. Deer mice and squirrels but no rats.

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

Will in between a city called Whitman and surprise. There is a city called sun city and there Is a brown rat problem plaguing that area currently as I speak

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Yes, because you have pack rats, a different & larger nasty rodent...

[@yland6003]

I was born in AZ! Virtually no rats, but there are scorpions everywhere in the Phoenix valley!

[@miked8653]

🐀 🐁 🐭 🐀 🐁

[@cloverhighfive]

This seemed like an absolute no-brainer that if you have garbage on the streets, you get rats. Follow-up video : what is keeping the city from dealing with street trash differently?

[@Cruxador]

Mostly cost of implementing a new system when the old one is already in use, I think

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Cost, as those rat proof trash cans cost alot...

[@RosscoAW]

Capitalism is not designed to "waste" (spend) money on things that aren't profitable. Dealing with garbage is not profitable, it's only a net cost, and that cost is borne almost entirely by normal people with homes and small businesses, instead of actual large corporations (or state/federal governments) that have the capital capacity to actually deal with massive logistics issues. The reason you see a better recycling regime than you do actual garbage disposal, in many cases, is because recycling exists almost exclusively to reduce the costs for large corporations: recycled material introduced into manufacturing and supply chains lowers the costs of acquiring new, raw natural resources, and it has the added benefit of random normal people being deluded into thinking recycling has some sort of impact on climate change/the environment (lolololol no it's literally just corporate propaganda, compared to actual, systemic solutions to emissions production). There's no correlate for waste disposal, which is just an expense municipal governments are forced to take on because state and federal government see *zero benefit whatsoever* to managing it themselves. TL;DR: Garbage is a costless externality of (almost entirely) large corporate manufacturing, such that the garbage you see on the streets represents a direct cost-reduction in manufacturing opex, and thus increases shareholder profit by not having to account for that (what would be an expense) if it were an internality. Put even more simply, billionaires want you to wade through shit because it makes their stonks go up and to the right -- nothing more, nothing less.

[@AdeleiTeillana]

They have recently changed the way they deal with trash, because of the rat problem. Trash can only be out on the curb for a certain amount of hours before collection - and you can put it out earlier if you're using a container with a secure lid than if you're just putting it directly on the street. But it is kinda dumb. I've only lived here for just over two years and I've found the practice of having huge piles of trash on the sidewalk to be disgusting. I lived in Asia for a few years and I thought the country I was in was one of the dirtiest in the world, but NYC isn't really that different. It's completely different than normal suburban USA where I lived most of my life. I think I once read the practice of putting it directly on the streets came from not having alleyways or space on narrow streets for dumpsters and trashcans. Still disgusting though - and especially bad smelling when it's hot.

[@cloverhighfive]

@@AdeleiTeillana Very interesting. Thanks! Also, I live in a good-sized city and even in suburbs they ask us to put our trash bins to the curb after a certain hour for morning collection. So I'm familiar with that! It does take effort on everyone's part!

[@tjr-007tt]

Just yesterday I saw a guy finish eat a slice of pizza and drop the paper plate and crust on the sidewalk. He didn’t even bother to look for a trash bin. This is why we will never solve the rat problem because people are not sanitary.

[@rihannasforehead9586]

American men. 😂 The same people who seem incapable of saying please or thank you. What did you expect?

[@nathaniel_fern4207]

My money is WHITE

[@KingSpaceySprockets]

We’re doomed smh

[@9340cody]

It's possible, look at the culture in Japan. Just never in the US, I agree 100%

[@tiandao8503]

​Tokyo has a major rat problem. They're prolific on the Ginza and they're quite fond of sushi.​@@9340cody

[@vovan7349]

People created and are fueling this "problem". Animals are not plotting about taking over the world - they just follow their instincts, so... Maybe it's us who should rethink our behaviour and be more responsible

[@The_whimsickal_artist]

Defo mate 👍🏻

[@magesalmanac6424]

You sure about that? I watched Pinky and the Brain growing up, those rats are for sure plotting something. 🤔

[@gizmoe187]

Nice try rat king.

[@RSKLove]

AZ’er here. That’s why I call everyone over there rat lovers or turtle wannabes. 😂

[@ricardoxavier827]

When you mix the sewage with rain drenage on the same pipleline network, you ask for rats. We no longer have rats on the streets since the 90's... Since government invested on spliting rain drenage from the sewage. Rats has no way to escape the sewage pipelines because its a closed system from the buildings to the sewage treatment plants. That simple. Its not the garbage what creates the rats pandemic. Its the unclosed sewage systems.

[@thelatter]

This problem infuriates me in NYC. As a born and raised new york city person, the trash has gotten out of control. We need to implement compost as city wide law. As put in this video the rats will go where the food is. And im sure they are great composters. So we should give them their own sites to live, outside of the city, where compost can be managed and cured into fresh soil. Campaign closed.

[@EmilyTienne]

Rats love composted food. Compost sites are not necessarily rat proof.

[@lenabreijer1311]

Money. It is all about money. Everyone is passing along the cost to someone else.

[@JsRazza]

Yeah that's all we need in NYC. More laws. Genius idea.

[@BLOCKBOI3RD]

A garbage disposal is in almost every apartment I've lived in and it's connected to the sewer line. Only other things go in the trash

[@thelatter]

Lol, idk sounds like you keep a smelly trash bin in your apartment, like god forbid we actually tackle our issues with food and waste in this country@@JsRazza

[@onke]

In South Africa we had scrapyards closed down before the 2010 world cup, and that cause a lot of issues with rats. They then release a few hundred owls, those rats were gone within 6 months.

[@jasonberryman1035]

Yeah, similar ideas have been theorized for the rats of NYC however a few problems emerge. The overall layout of NYC itself benefits the lifestyle and hiding methods of brown rats, allowing them many travel routes that birds of prey cannot follow. Cats hunt rats but the largest and most aggressive male brown rats are usually avoided by cats, those rats in question become the main dominant breeders, thus continuing their proliferation and spreading their genes to create future larger and more aggressive individuals.

[@ondaride777]

It can't be done in NYC. Owls will fly away from that evil city. The energy there is extremely toxic and will repulse owls or any birds of prey. Even cats can't help and rather run away. I did same couple decades back and only visit NYC occasionally

[@guysumpthin2974]

@@ondaride777 cats are evil (toxoplasmosis)

[@sigh1481]

Bruh why are you lying? We still have rat problems till this day

[@Initium1000]

Bs

[@goldengirl5165]

As someone who has a phobia of mice and rats, I do not think I could live in NYC.

[@qjtvaddict]

Dont

[@SedriqMiers]

wait to you taste em - dellicious and low in carbon too saving the planet - go to china town with added msg.

[@goldengirl5165]

@@larry9789 they are everywhere but that doesn't mean I see them everyday. I don't think I could live there if I SEE rats everyday

[@SequinSuperNOVA]

I honestly don't understand. rats are just another mammal with fur like cats and dogs.

[@athenamendenhall2651]

@@SequinSuperNOVAYou are part of the issue with that type of thinking. Rats carry all types of diseases and their waste causes inflammation to the brain and other parts of the physiological system. Cities and communities can’t continue to be overpopulated with rodents. But you enjoy your pet rats.

[@87alock]

Imagine paying $2,500 a month to live in a broom closet inside a "Rat Kingdom."

[@MsJonessss]

Exactly! Straight fools.

[@StandWatie1862]

Human terrarium

[@jus3278]

It's why people are not moving to NYC anymore. The NY media hyped it up for decades, but younger generations are getting smarter and realizing that food, culture, museums, art, diversity, etc, also exist in other cities across the US. I love the NYC gritty character, I love the Yankees, and New Yorkers in general because they are always cool people to me....but being stacked in a sardine can apartment with rats that is expensive as hell is no way to live your life.

[@SedriqMiers]

sheeple love and will gladly pay for it too the taxes are insane the love it the muppets.

[@LuxuriousLenay]

@@jus3278Fr! New York is wild

[@shakenbacon-vm4eu]

That ending thought got me. I absolutely hate all pests, but damn rats and mice really took on a huge role suffering and dying through testing medicine to get us to where we are. I will say, our lifespan also increased from better cleanliness

[@JohnnyVee007]

Which is ironic because our cleanliness prevents their spread

[@MK-hh1vo]

🤔 I wouldn't say rats and mice "took on" the role of suffering. They're forced into it. I'm sure they'd prefer to run free than be lab test subjects. The "ratoligist" who loves these animals so much just extends that "love" to what the animals can be forced to do for humans. I'm not a fan of rats but I don't celebrate their torture as lab test subjects and I don't pretend that the rats are sacrificing themselves for the good of humanity. 🧐

[@ricardoxavier827]

When you mix the sewage with rain drenage on the same pipleline network, you ask for rats. We no longer have rats on the streets since the 90's... Since government invested on spliting rain drenage from the sewage. Rats has no way to escape the sewage pipelines because its a closed system from the buildings to the sewage treatment plants. That simple. Its not the garbage what creates the rats pandemic. Its the unclosed sewage systems.

[@timetravelers-26]

We can use them in medical testing without letting them overrun urban centres.

[@maxinef6654]

I couldn’t watch it and didn’t 😂😂

[@juanpablosaenz9037]

A few years ago I rented an apartment with my sister and we began having issues with a huge brown rat that came out of the sewers...With tried everything and the bastard was always one move ahead of us...we tried to block every entrance to the sewers and the rat will open a hole on all sorts of materials...the Mofo was an expert on drilling. We finally got rid of him with poison but we fought with him for months.

[@Bornjamerican24]

We killed one in rural Jamaica and threw its body in the fire pit.

[@johnnymnemonic69]

​@@Bornjamerican24that's nice good for you 😂

[@jayman3915]

@@Bornjamerican24lol

[@superMan-cn1ir]

You fought a fooking war

[@akashsuresh1369]

You should make a short story or a comic about the Great battle between him and your family. I would definitely wanna read it.

[@azilbean]

I love Shane's laugh, his curiosity, and the way he leaves space for the others to talk and share their passions. I also love the editing in ALL of his documentaries. Well done!🙌 Keep it up!

[@antoniomontano4219]

Ayo?

[@guysumpthin2974]

No cats (toxoplasmosis) , no rats , no pigs , the way it was before the colonialists arrived

[@guysumpthin2974]

In Australia they moved to the farm country, sometimes it looks like the driveway is moving, and they chew through the front doors

[@antoniomontano4219]

Yo

[@cm1701a]

Can’t believe report did not focus on improving the on street trash/ waste problem. To save time and sanitation worker steps- bags were required (rather than cans) some years ago. Each bag saves a return to the curb from the truck for the sanitation worker. In a city that large - saved worker steps add up. In Amsterdam there are central underground sealed receptacles for each type of waste-think underground cylindrical dumpsters. Secured from all pests a truck comes at given interval to pull up presorted waste, compostable and recyclables. Less waste on the street… fewer pests!

[@fr2ncm9]

I noticed a big uptick in Rats when the city switched from cans to bags.

[@BrentHollett]

That would be inconvenient for profit and effort.

[@svenweihusen57]

@@BrentHollettactually not. A worker needs to hoist each bag while a mechanic can lift a big dumpster which would hold many bags. It’s actually healthier for the workers back, he can roll the big dumpster, eliminates a lot of pest problems and in the end may be in the same price range as bags. Downtime for workers with back problems also costs money.

[@BrentHollett]

@@svenweihusen57 I meant that if they fixed the waste problem, a 3 billion a year industry would run out of reason for existing. No rats, no rat catchers.

[@darkwing3713]

@@svenweihusen57 They should go back to containers, but there's no place to put full size dumpsters in NYC. No alleys, and they'd take up too much room on the sidewalks.

[@scottthomas3792]

I live in a small city, and no doubt there are rats and mice, but they're kept in check. Mainly with covered trash cans and routine pickup. Never make anything more complicated than it has to be. A trashcan with a lid and frequent pickup would reduce rhe problem. Piling up trash on the curb us just a rat and mouse McDonald's....

[@goldengirl5165]

In my apartment complex, only teenagers and adults are allowed to throw out trash. The reason kids aren't allowed to do that is because kids can't always open the dumpster lids and toss the trash inside. That would make kids leave the trash on the ground, which would attract mice and other critters.

[@psykkomancz]

I am honestly shocked by the amount of plastic bags with trash lying around on streets. NYC lacks basic sanitation infrastructure, common in cities all across Europe.

[@MsJonessss]

What’s crazy, is that in the beginning of the pandemic when there was an ordered shutdown, it was cleanest its’ ever been.

[@thepaulusmaximus]

@@MsJonessss That was due to all the restaurants closing.

[@b_uppy]

In many places in Europe they have underground trash bins with censors that detect when they are full. This saves on trash pick up, while reducing the rats' food supply. This would greatly reduce bad smells, add walkability, etc. Think eddy-type bioswales would also help as they would make trash removal easier instead of letting trash go everywhere. There is a volunteer ratting terrier group that meets to eliminate rats at owners requests, and to clear public spaces. The dogs love it.

[@SamMcKinley]

Europe seems to be more into “people”. America is about waste and stealing money. Doing what makes sense here has to be profitable

[@steve3131]

Never would work in New York, barring a political revolution. The cost of installation would be padded by corrupt contractors and indolent municipal unions, there'd be issue of "equity" for people of color, transgender, women, etc, and the maintenance would break down (look at escalators and elevators on the subway).

[@ricardoxavier827]

When you mix the sewage with rain drenage on the same pipleline network, you ask for rats. We no longer have rats on the streets since the 90's... Since government invested on spliting rain drenage from the sewage. Rats has no way to escape the sewage pipelines because its a closed system from the buildings to the sewage treatment plants. That simple. Its not the garbage what creates the rats pandemic. Its the unclosed sewage systems.

[@b_uppy]

@@ricardoxavier827 That trash bags sit directly ON THE STREET is the biggest problem. Bioswales would reduce stress on the sewage/storm drains and be much cheaper with broader benefits than trying to put in separate storm drains after the fact.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Apex Predator Clean Up Mess

[@jacobgarcia2398]

The editing on this is cracked out!!! Great work 📼

[@pouyasattari2469]

The rat hunting dog's owners should put something, at least cardboard, at the bottom of their cages.

[@scottschoppert9149]

I thought that too! What a horrible life those dog lives in the small kennel

[@user-ip9kk5qn9i]

That, and I was wondering how do they protect the dogs against disease from biting into the rats and being in that bait box. Ugh I hate how humanity uses animals 😭

[@rihannasforehead9586]

Let's all donate for some pillows. 🤦‍♂️

[@Lecksite]

When I moved into town home in Philadelphia there were rats or mice everyday due to the previous resident. Ultimately what got rid of the rodents was making sure no food was accessable, expensive high-pitched audio devices and closing up all the holes in the walls

[@ellaroberts1812]

What is a high-pitched audio device for mice and where to buy it!?

[@kathrynaguenza4508]

@@ellaroberts1812 I want to know too!

[@david1032]

Having cats works too

[@jemicabond3916]

I want to know 3

[@ylimeasil]

I love this host- his voice, his attitude, his questions. He’s super great🎉

[@The99poundsisters]

Same

[@AnimalAdvocate-w4i]

I am an animal enthusiast and advocate, but I must say I get the creeps about the city rats. Loved this very informative and fascinating presentation.

[@starcasita]

Times skip at 10:18 to 11:39 for those of us who want to skip seeing some rat deaths. Thank you for putting in a content warning and for showing some more perspectives on these little creatures, PBS!

[@kellbing]

I agree. While I understand that they are a problem, I love rats and have owned them as pets. I appreciate the warning because it breaks my heart to see them dead.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Thanks, my avatar & I used your link to replay the rats being killed... Of course my kitty also liked seeing the horrible doggies being kept in cages...

[@b_uppy]

I hate wild rats. Seeing them dead is fine by me. Totally different from pet rats.

[@lindapindabelinda3570]

Thank you for your content warning. It’s the only one I saw on the entire page. Stopped the video and I’m looking for something less sad.

[@ЖекаИванов-ш5б]

Thanks for the time code for rewatching that action

[@paulstefanpopa-bratu9521]

What I think people don't realize is that NYC doesn't really have any alleyways so all the trash goes on the sidewalks, thus causing the entire city to smell like trash

[@JB-tz8fu]

And piss 😂

[@DubbyDubois]

🧢

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@flyty7590]

That's cap New York has millions of alleyways lol

[@carlcarlson5553]

​@@flyty7590 NYC doesnt have MILLIONS of Alleys. Sure there are alley in places like queens or bronx but basically none in manhatten but even in places like queens or bronx there isnt many.

[@ritawing1064]

Rats are very clever, they'd probably run the place quite well.

[@juanpablosaenz9037]

They run the place if you ask me and they are thriving more than the people.

[@banginbadger75]

Reminds me of this time that my brother and I got outsmarted by a mouse. He kept going into our grill & eating the leftovers. One night, I open the grill & find him in there & immediately close it in an attempt to deviate a plan to catch him. When we went to open the grill to get him, he was nowhere to be found. While looking for him in the grill, he comes flying out from a hiding spot he found & managed to get away from us. The little guy was smart enough to hide from us and make the jump when he needed to. I was impressed.

[@eric2500]

Don't drop that pizza, Shane, Pizza Rat is watching!

[@fr2ncm9]

My block definitely has a rat problem. Recently, some basement apartments were renovated and new doors put in. The rats couldn't get in so they dug tunnels using the soil from the trees nearby.

[@Bornjamerican24]

Where at?

[@jasminegermany2895]

😮😮 OMG

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@oscarmelgar4164]

I lived in NYC for over 25 years and I think they had become iconic symbols of the city, like Statue of Liberty 🗽, NY Yankees , Empire State Building I think their mayor playground is all the city subway system…. In fact , New York should have a team call the NY 🐀 Rats .

[@antoniorosas721]

😂🎉

[@KobieeBryant]

Lmao don’t forget they have master splinter sir

[@EastLA-kv2ee]

😂

[@matrix-fh9tn]

And imagine they have the most stolen bases. Lol.

[@APG-fu6gk]

As a native New Yorker our rats have 3 inch necks! They are everywhere. They laugh at the poison. There's ONE trash can every other block and its overflow all over the ground. Put out more more rat proof cans.

[@OldManBoxing]

I’m from the South Bronx NYC I remember as a kid we played in a dumpster and this big rat was in there and scared the crap out of us but the kicker was IT WAS DEAD and still we were scared of it that’s how big rats can be in NYC…

[@Abundance172]

i frequent new york alot and always wondered why they just dont do 24hr trash pick up because the rat problem is so bad cats and racoons dont mess with them its disgusting

[@acooksla]

Money

[@jonsays3762]

They were climbing out of sewer in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, after sawing a hole in the grate and burrowing a dangerous tunnel under the street.

[@nawsh2252]

The first time I visited NYC I was pretty shocked they don't use closed lid trash bins everywhere and instead just pile the bags and what not up on the sidewalk. The trash collectors have a real tough job out there! And when it snows on the piles... Yuck!

[@TheDevourerOfUniverses]

Yea that was a very braindead thing to do

[@aaronjovon6491]

NYC had stray cats in the 90s. Once the cats got scooped, the rats took over the coop! 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@sergii_real_estate]

Editing is so good! Where did you get those black and white footages of cartoons/old movies with rats to use in the video?

[@fathimathnabeela6247]

You can easily find it by a few minutes of searching

[@abe_linc02]

Fun fact. : Here in Kensington Allegheny Philly. A cat is your best friend. Here the mouses and rats stare at you. While you shooo them away. I had a trained cat we would both roamed the house and rip the mouses in half. Kinda like the hockey stick and dog also 🐶 🐱

[@W-H-O]

8:31 wtf? these dogs have to stand on bars at the bottom of their cages? how inhumane! how would you like to stand on bars all day long?! Thinking about looking up "Unique Pest Management" in NYC and giving them a call...

[@runstreet]

So interesting and great job from the host as always, with some good comedic relief! As a New Yorker, I hate the unsanitary conditions that lead to more rats but I don’t blame the rats. I admire their survival skills in this crazy place. I wish the city’s sanitation efforts would improve though. Also once my dog snatched a rat and killed it on our walk, what an unforgettable Christmas morning.😭

[@keith_dark_savagethomas6385]

Your dog is a straight SAVAGE!!!!!!

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@JJONNYREPP]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom 🐀1052am 6.11.23 allegedly if you feed mice and rats on generic cheese they will die due to their bodies not being able to process the food ie: it constipated them and their stomachs basically burst open...

[@stevelopez372]

Before Covid we had a great time visiting New York City. And I noticed the Garbage goes in and out the same Door the customers go through. And the trash bags were stacked at curbside nightly. Oh the problems of the Concrete Jungle. Lol.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@stevelopez372 How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom 0941am. 2.1.24. I have never visited America let alone new York. Societally speaking, though, New York doesn't seem like a good idea - at all. Seems they didn't weigh up the fact people, actual people, would have to live there. A pretty messed up place if you think about three being little greenery, a concrete infested horizon and mob rule...new York being a vast sprawl of immigrant ghettoes. Of so the whimsical idyll goes. Anyhow, probably exciting to visit but I think it'd be murder to live there - unless yer proposing moving me out to trump towers with clean water, central heating, attractive neighbours, no dog shit, and a lavish golf club toasting life style....???? I surmise the rats have already bagged the cushiest pads and jobs out there? They say, in the big city, yer never too far, a mere 6feet, away from one - a commuter orientated rat? Dunno about that but with the money they're making tales of garbage laden doorways may be the least of your or the lavish, maybe slavish, rats' concerns. Nothing to see for miles but high rise..... who owns new York, these days? I watched mean streets the other night. Seems the streets are cleaner, the rats probably fuller of belly and cosier of situation????

[@gcvrsa]

"How did rats get here in the first place"?? Well, for starters, Rattus rattus (the black rat) and Rattus norvegicus (the brown rat) are most-widely distributed and most widely adaptable non-human species on the planet. As the saying goes, where people go, rats follow. The only place on Earth rats don't exist is, apparently, Antarctica, and it's an even money bet whether or not rats are in Antarctica or not, and NYC is definitively NOT the most rat-infested city in the US. Chicago and Los Angeles are worse.

[@MichaelSmith-qc7nk]

The video says white people brought the rats to NYC.

[@GusGusNoFuss]

I searched rat first on youtube because I have two little rattie bois and this is what I landed on. A very interesting take with mixed opinions here, but rats are only the gross sewer animal because we made it so. Rats are actually quite beautiful, intelligent and persistent animals. They are incredibly impressive as a species on earth, and I can tell you my two boys love me and know me as their dad alone. Also literally you add food to the equation and rats will find a way. I hope if anything that you maybe challenge your perception of rats. I have people terified just to touch my gorgeous boys because of the rat hate for all of time.

[@musicaldramaqueen]

I totally get you there. Sweet pet rats

[@ardiris2715]

Unfortunately this does not address not dropping their damn trash curbside. Park a dumpster on every block.

[@TimKelleherCorp]

The trash cans ordinance has helped greatly, and the heavy flooding rains have thinned the heard - great video

[@I2AmUS]

If NYC is the rat kingdom, Chicago is the rat planet! As per Orkin, Maintaining the top spot for the seventh year in a row, Chicago is the most rat-infested city in the United States. Chicago is widely known as the “rattiest city” or the “rat capital” in the United States. I wish I could give this "achievement" to NYC, but sadly, I can't.

[@shewhosucceeds]

Seriously- they are ridiculous here in Chicago!

[@jasonreed7522]

Thats horrifying considering how bad NYC is.

[@bjdefilippo447]

That's fascinating. I have to check out that list!

[@eric_has_no_idea]

Anecdotally, I've only seen one rat in my neighborhood in the last 10 years. Downtown, I'd see a few a month. Every time I was in Manhattan, I'd see several every day. This disagrees with that study so much I really wonder about method. It looks like it's by number of calls to Orkin, not a survey looking for them. Maybe people in NYC don't call, or maybe Orken has more competition.

[@Asseptence]

I live in Chicago and there’s a lot of rats. But by far I think DC is worst. Drove down the wrong alley once and they literally swarmed when they caught my headlights. It looked like a swarm of locusts but like with rats.

[@lawrenceterrell8471]

When i lived in NY before i left permanently back in 2013 being born and raised my entire life in the Bronx i would watch city sanitation workers and trucks picking up garbage and to see the amount of garbage remain on sidewalk curb, ir the platform in train stations it only provided a way for rats to take over the city. For an over crowded city with more people than it got to keep the city street clean it shows how an issue than still remains an issue now

[@PierreVB-514]

Society should SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER how it's managing its waste. 🙄 I live in Montreal and I see the same kind of problem New York has but on a smaller scale , and the way we manage our garbage , recycling and composting is far from being efficient or sanitary. People have to take responsibility for their own actions instead of tossing the blame on some higher echelon of our collectivity. Reuse , Repurpose , Recycle ! I can hear a mile away those claiming that we don't have the space to make these changes in a coherent manner , but where there is a will , there is a way !

[@rjbarton2010]

It is the food waste in NYC

[@willcrockett7732]

Just wanted to say the production value of this video is really outstanding. Great photography, outstanding editing and the narrator really did a fantastic job. First class work folks. Thank you.

[@debrahelmlinger6256]

I have a rat killing cat and my garbage goes to the curb in big plastic cans with lids that are picked up by trucks with big automatic arms to empty it into truck. Putting garbage in bags on the curb, what do you think is going to happen?

[@cmar601]

@13:13 the plot twist I didn't expect. I felt guilty for a split second then remembered I live near Thomkins Square park...😵‍💫 Dead zones vs hot spots makes so much sense, crazy how red Central park appeared to be on the monitor. Cool video.

[@MorganHJackson]

I dunno if anyone's told New York this, but you don't have to put rubbish on the streets hey. Rats aren't inevitable in cities, just clean up the damn streets and start using proper bins instead. Seriously, "greatest city in the greatest country on earth" and you dump raw rubbish in the streets? That's just disgusting.

[@Mr.Anders0n_]

Rats came to NY like everybody else: looking for a better a life and the American dream... but then the reality kicked in

[@abetterlivedlife]

We need more community cats. Every city should have a massive TNR program. Make it easy for locals to catch and care for their local cats. That would solve most of the rat issue.

[@bevs9995]

yep. islamic cities dont have this issue

[@graceross4888]

cats are pretty bad rat catchers, contrary to popular belief and would rather join the rats looking for food at the trash, the dogs are better as far as an animal solution

[@msk-qp6fn]

​@@graceross4888 or snakes 😂

[@davidburke2697]

Take third world measures.......that's the way to go.

[@bevs9995]

@@graceross4888 cats are excellent mousers - much more so than they are birders (cant catch a pigeon for shyttt); ground animals, especially rodents are their #1 prey. But rats are already biologically programmed to avoid the smell of cats - so they dont get near them --- thats how good cats are at hunting rodents; and says a lot of the two species' evolutionary history with eachother.

[@hko2006]

11:00 would the dogs get sick from all the disease/parasite the rats carry?

[@RealFM25]

I do pest control and had to fly out sometimes more than once a month to NYC to do pest services. People definitely exaggerate the size of rats in NYC however the city as a whole definitely has an issue. What do you expect when people leave hundreds of pounds of trash on almost every residential street corner

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@stevenwheeler7999]

Exaggerate? Take a walk down to the subway and look down to the train tracks! They’ve got rats a bobcat wouldn’t mess with😳🤣

[@athenamendenhall2651]

So you’re saying there’s just way too much waste and trash that these rodents have access to??

[@bcd4562]

NYC: rat kingdom Chicago: hold my beer...

[@juskahusk2247]

It happened because Rats and humans are almost the exact same animal. Both are Mammals, similar intelligence and behaviour. They are almost identical so no one noticed.

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@SedriqMiers]

you can eat a rat but i wouldnt eat a human.

[@juskahusk2247]

@@SedriqMiers That's like saying you would eat a Pig but not a Boar.

[@ArtsyJet]

​@@SedriqMiersYeah, cannibalism is shunned for obvious reasons.

[@ITIsFunnyDamnIT]

Guinea pigs are not vile like rats, and they've also been experimented on just as much as they have rats. Most people treat them like they're throw away disposable pets. If you chose to adopt or buy an animal you should know before hand what you're getting into.

[@Solomon0424]

I own a chinchilla and I tell you he was very smart just like these rats.

[@ambition112]

0:00: 🐀 New York City is infested with rats, and a renowned Urban Rodentologist is trying to figure out how to get rid of them. 2:27: 🐀 Rats are prolific and adaptable creatures that can thrive in cities. 5:12: 🐀 Rats have spread across the planet through European imperialism and colonization. 8:39: 🐀 Using dogs to kill rats as an alternative to poison or traps. 10:52: ! Handlers use dogs and hockey sticks to catch rats in New York City. Recap by Tammy AI

[@MichaelSmith-qc7nk]

White people brought the rats to NYC?

[@paghilumdihauy]

How NYC Became a Rat Kingdom ?? because of DemocRATS politicians, people and attitude!!!

[@pyrethorn]

As someone with pet rats, it always hurts to see them hunted. But I recognize that there's a difference between my fur babies and wild rats. Wish they didn't have such a bad rep.

[@Darkflowerchyld718]

Right?! I live here and because of my love of rodents I just don't see them the same as others do. I can recognize the dangers they pose but at the same time my brain gets positivity giddy every time I see one. For a split second I'm Snow White and my woodland friends have come to play. Then I remember it's Brooklyn and that's not a pet and I should probably keep my distance 😅

[@shandya]

Same thing with cats, I love cats but I have to recognize that they are invasive species and a danger to local animal populations. Thus they need to be controlled. But many cat lovers are still in denial about it.

[@MK-hh1vo]

​​@@shandyaWhat local animal populations do cats threaten??? Insects?

[@shandya]

@@MK-hh1vo insects, birds, reptiles, squirrels, bats, and many other small rodents, hares & mammals. Many which populations already depleted by human settlements. Cats are skilled predators, in Australia alone they kill 2 billion animals anually (although they become such adorable floofy fluff balls on your lap).

[@msk-qp6fn]

​@@MK-hh1vo a lot of birds, other small mammals like rabbits and hares, and etc

[@vincentsuarez2523]

Dog hunting seems much better solution to the rat epidemic compared to poison. Poison gas the risk of cross contamination to predators that eat the rodents. Also, if filth is the issue, public relations need to be addressed. Inform the public on techniques to ward of the rodents, enforce, more severely, littering laws, and invest in more thorough street cleaning.

[@geneytube18]

In the Netherlands they built receptacles where one deposits the trash according to type. These get sorted in an underground recyle and refining plant. This does a few things. No trash on the streets. No trash collection, so no air pollution from trucks doing the job and holding up traffic. I'm affaid corruption has put the kibbash on progress in NYC.

[@mr.iforgot3062]

This was the greatest documentary I've ever seen! I will never see anything as good as this again. My lif is downhill from here.

[@sukmykrok3388]

Welp, that dog scene was pretty intense, haha!

[@carlbernard4197]

You could actually hear the dogs crunching the rats 🐀 😮😮😮😮

[@sukmykrok3388]

@@carlbernard4197 haha, that was the most intense part of it! It's one thing when it's a stock sound effect, but THIS... ...this was no sound effect, lol!

[@MichelleCarithersAuthor]

I like the willingness to get to the root of the problem instead of seeking to place blame when in actuality...rats have been a part of our existence for decades upon decades and the problem will not be solved in most of our lifetimes...thanks for the due diligence to "uncover" the problem..which was "highlighted" for political reasons..

[@HaloHighlightz]

1:52 Bobby: Here we are, sitting at a restaurant; that door is not pest-proof Shane: *nomnomnom* 😂 Question for those who’ve visited NYC: how frequently do you actually see rats? Visiting soon, but my mom is terrified of mice and rats

[@szurketaltos2693]

You're more likely to see them at night when the bags are out.

[@punkyroo]

All the time. Walking through Central Park, in the middle of the day, and rats are running around like squirrels.

[@tbird-z1r]

They're the least scary thing in NYC.

[@allenmoody7527]

I saw one rat after midnight during my first visit to NYC. They really try to stay out of the way.

[@MK-hh1vo]

Life long NYer here. You can visit NYC and never see rats depending on where you go. Some companies offer Rat tours for those looking for the nyc rat experience because they're not that easy to encounter.

[@Black.Origin]

Bro @4:38 did I just hear travis Scott’s gods country sample 🔥

[@geddyleesowlnose]

They know there fanbase lol

[@malgremor85]

The city congratulates itself for having solved the stray cat "problem".

[@Shervin86]

Why have I not heard of this channel before? Amazing content and presentation! 👌🏼👌🏼😁👍🏻 Subbed!

[@xt2724]

I had a pet rat and college a great hooded rat named sniffles he was as smart as any dog I've had that was a fantastic little pet from my dorm room. He knew his name and would come when called

[@lingsang_in_the_trees]

Yeah but wild rats are built different

[@veo16]

7:00 just needs a correction here. It’s not that Midtown lacks residential areas. It’s full of apartments. But these newer buildings have strict trash policies and also have the infrastructure to have trash chutes and bins in the buildings themselves. All the rest of the city needs to do is invest in lidded trash cans and indoor bins, or even daily trash pickups instead of every couple of days. And the government needs to do nightly street power washing on all sidewalks. And the problem will go away. Very small cost compared to the big problem of rodents and bugs.

[@eyespliced]

My absolute favorite pets I've ever had were a pair of sister rats. I got them as babies, and bottle fed them and they were the sweetest most affectionate knuckleheads. They both died in captivity of old age/cancer and never had the chance to make more ratties, which is good - and while wild rat populations _are_ out of control, the animal itself is beautiful and amazing in a gloriously ratty way. They're consummate survivors, and their adaptability and intelligence is why they thrive where and how they do, and why they're pests when allowed to run rampant.

[@chuckdude514]

I have had some too, they are really sweet, it's unfortunate that humans infected rats with so many threatening diseases with trash.

[@blueblaze9862]

Ok but these are different types of rats

[@eyespliced]

@@blueblaze9862 No, the rats I had were 'Norwegian Rats' i.e. "rattus norvegicus," which is the same species of rat that runs NYC, and were shown in this video. They were just hand raised by me and well fed.

[@pnut3844able]

They make great pets

[@sluggzmcgee6272]

You would think that, stereotypically, cats could and would be expert rat hunters but as it turns out, most cats actually fear rats. If a rat appears a little sizable, most cats won't go anywhere near it. So it makes sense to hire these fearless terriers.

[@SolaceEasy]

I get to see this kind of fun on the farm, but I never thought I'd see it on PBS.

[@huntercool2232]

In an alternate universe Ratatouille was set in New York and a rat named “Emmy” became New York’s greatest hotdog vender

[@rastalique8114]

In Houston there are a lot of stray cats and almost no rats.

[@akidataylor777]

Rats made the First 48 the most popular tv show on the air now

[@thewho2482]

I was in nyc last week visiting my family. And the rats are out of control. Im glad i live in Germany. The terrier dogs have a field day in the farms in Europe

[@aguythatworkstoomuch4624]

Cities are filthy. I’m glad I live in the country where it’s clean , quiet, and no crime

[@Emcron]

who knew dogs would be better rat exterminators than cats lol

[@ihave35cents95]

Everyone

[@Nana-Opa]

Cats have their own agenda!

[@mango0686]

What is Eric Adams going to do about the rat problem in NYC

[@iamkellij]

I'm from Indiana. We are required to put our trash in to trash cans. The trash cans are provided to us by the city/town you live in. And its included in the trash pick up fee on the bill. And its not that much. We get two trash cans per apt/home. The trash trucks use a lift to pick up the trash can and dump everything into the truck. Drop the trash can, and keep it moving. I was applauded when I first went to NYC because of all thet trash. I can't believe NYC gov't allow this to happen. The city was fun. But overall, I found NYC to be very dirty because of all the trash. Not to mention NYC is a walking city.. so when walking on the streets pass the trash it smells bad.

[@dredenny6654]

Don't believe you. India is dirty. Full.stop ..People have no hygiene there..

[@markedis5902]

The rat in our garden ate the first lot of poison and came back for more. It took 12 sachets of a stronger poison before it died

[@TeagueChrystie]

This is fantastic. Great job to everyone involved.

[@wigglewiggle3789]

My skin is going to crawl for the next three weeks. Loved it.

[@AtomicF0x]

Rats in New York City?! Whoa, this has like...never happened before!

[@walchil1]

Love how at 6:15 the editor gave v8 sounds to that i4 mustang 🤣

[@rochaelradcliffe5135]

Cats could help as well, but the cats in that part of the world are very domesticated and dont like to hunt. My neighbour's cat moved over when i moved in and i never had a rat problem until she died.

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

WHY are those ratdogs in CAGES? they LIVE in CAGES, hunt rats at night, then go back to living in those CAGES with not even a cushion but steel rails to stand/lay on? those dog handlers shd b ashamed and arrested. terrible life for those dogs.

[@placeholdername0000]

Get underground garbage cans.

[@Altijdgamervids]

We have that in the Netherlands

[@placeholdername0000]

@@Altijdgamervids *Swampy Germany lol

[@TheLillink]

9:14 "the dog lisperer" 😂😂😂

[@TheyCallMeNewb]

Those dogs were certainly voracious in their role.

[@ratgirl13]

Whenever an acquaintance talks about moving to New York City I show them this video, I’m kidding! It’s a great video and a great city. ❤

[@_SJ]

9:39 I'm sorry, but I noticed that the dogs don't look happy. I can sense that.

[@wholeshebang1]

Yes, being kept in wire-bottomed crates for the majority of time is inhumane.

[@jayandree4361]

“So if you’re Squeamish…” I’m eating lunch while watching this lol

[@blankblank9117]

We owe our longevity as humans to the rats. That was a deep statement towards the end. He's pretty spot on too.

[@timothygreer188]

As of August 1, 2023, ALL food-related businesses must use rigid containers with secure lids when setting out trash for collection. Containers must be removed from the curb by the time your business reopens. All schools will now have large receptacles to put trash, some are angry because they will be using street parking spaces, and even recently designated bike lanes in a few instances. Outdoor seating structures are being demoloshed and only permitted structures will be allowed, seasonally. Public trashcans will be larger enclosed structures that lock when full and beam a signal to a DSNY officer.

[@wholeshebang1]

Those are some great initiatives implemented to control the rat population. How successful has it been? Are the numbers significantly reduced?

[@timothygreer188]

@@wholeshebang1 I'd say somewhat. I've seen fewer young rats, which could mean they are either breeding less or consuming the babies. The issue I've seen is more in daytime near parks and places people toss out bread and other food for birds.

[@andrewaguirre7872]

Cuz us humans are nasty

[@ratbox_]

Outstanding work, great video comrades.

[@andrewjpalla]

This documentary is amazing. It’s educational, entertaining, thought-provoking (don’t get me started on that conclusion!) Of course Rats, like everything else, is a socio-economic issue. Why don’t aren’t we get rid of them? Wealth inequality.

[@mcgritty8842]

Did your feelings get hurt? History class must have been really difficult

[@guerosolis5794]

That's why they created the "Rat King" in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

[@bigwombat7286]

NYC has always had a lot of rats...and plenty of rodents too.

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

Speaking of NYC 🗽 I'm a rap artist living near where hip hop all started. 💪🏽 💯 Hey!!! I'm walkin ova here!!!

[@DarkPesco]

The plague was spread by the fleas on rats and mice spreading throughout the population. This story taught us that wealthier areas who can invest into proper cleaning experience dramatically less rodent infestation...almost none! Which means any disease spread will disproportionately affect low-income populations. Yet another argument for less capitalism, having in its place a more socially centered economy. In other words...I support the full unionization of the United States workers!

[@covfefe1787]

communism means poverty for everyone look at Cuba and Venezuela. capitalism while not being the best its the best system we got. its better we have a middle class and upper class than just a poverty class enslaved to the government.