'Perfect Rat Storm': Urban Rat Populations Increased Up to 390% in Past Decade Due to Climate Change, Study Finds

Over the past decade, rat numbers rose by 390% in Washington, D.C., 300% in San Francisco, 186% in Toronto, and 162% in New York. (Credit: Mert Guller/Unsplash)

Urban rat populations have surged dramatically in recent years, with some cities experiencing increases of nearly 400%, according to a new study published in Science Advances.

Researchers found that rising global temperatures are fueling the boom, allowing rats to breed longer and survive in milder winters.