Rats are, “a thing of beauty in many different ways,” Corrigan said, and “as a mammal, it’s a very successful mammal.” “It needs a lot of attention, it needs money, it needs science.

This video shows just how much Eric Adams has noticed New York City’s rodent problem. He has said the word “rat” or “rats” at least 80 times since October.

Rats, the furry nuisance that once was a sometimes issue, have become a bigger problem over the pandemic years. Courtney Norris and Dorothy Hastings explore what led to the rise in the rat population.

Rats living in New York City's sewer system can catch the virus that causes COVID-19. Could they incubate new variants and spread them to people? The coronavirus has infected New York City's rats.