How many rats are in New York City?

Answer 1

3 billion male rats plus 3,5 billion female rats, plus 2,6 billion baby rats, plus 2 billion elderly rats, plus 1,5 billion gay rats, totalizing 9,3 billion rats. (According to the latest NYRC - New York Ratus Census)

Answer 2

My parents used to see rats as big as small dogs, when they first moved to the Upper West Side in the late 1970s to early 1980s. At that time, the Upper West Side was not the gentrified, yuppie neighborhood it is today. It was full of empty lots and crackhouses.

The neighborhood slowly began to change. Construction began on the new luxury condo buildings that you see in the neighborhood today. These giant sewer rats, which normally you do not see above ground, were disturbed by all the construction and would often come up and wander around at street level.

I have personally never seen a rat as big as a small dog in New York City. Most of the ones I see are like, 6 to 9 inches long, not including their tails. But I would assume the giant ones are still around, lurking deep underground.

Answer 3

1 Billion