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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Seth Borenstein

REVEALED: Rats more rodents are infesting cities as scientists say warmer temperatures mean more rat babies | Rare Historical Photos

Climate Rats - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Rat infestation in many world cities appears to be soaring, especially in Washington, and a new study blames climate change, urbanization and other human actions.

A first-of-its-kind examination of trends and reasons in hard-to-count rat populations uses rat sighting reports in 16 cities around the world. In 11 of those cities, rat complaints have increased, according to a study in Friday's journal Science Advances.

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