Hurricane Sandy Worsens N.Y. Rat Problem

Hurricane Sandy Worsens N.Y. Rat Problem
by Winston Ross Oct 31, 2012 4:45 AM EDT

If you thought Frankenstorm would rid Gotham of its vermin, think again. Rodents are as resilient as cockroaches. Winston Ross reports.


Whither the Rattus norvegicus?

It’s a natural question, to wonder if Frankenstorm that swamped New York City on Monday night might depart with some silver-lined clouds—namely, that Hurricane Sandy either drowned the city’s inestimable millions of hearty Norway rats or washed them off the island altogether.


[font size="1"]Robert Mecea / AP Photo[/font]

Even Brooklyn’s own Bob Sullivan, author of the widely renowned book Rats, who has spent as much time thinking about rats as anyone who doesn’t pick up trash could possibly be expected to; even he had to stop and ponder it for a second:

“Well, the streets do seem a lot cleaner, in some places,” he told The Daily Beast on Tuesday. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/31/hurricane-sandy-worsens-n-y-rat-problem.html