Source: Scientific American
A new preprint field study reveals that New York City’s rats are not only resilient survivors but also highly social animals with a hidden nightlife. Using wireless ultrasonic recorders and thermal cameras at parks, sidewalks, and subway platforms, researchers tracked their movements and vocalizations, uncovering a complex “language” inaudible to humans. Surprisingly, rats adjusted their calls to ambient noise, even vocalizing louder than passing ambulances.
The study also highlighted social dynamics: juvenile rats often foraged in groups, while large adults—dubbed “Moby Dicks”—ventured alone, possibly scouting for colonies. With an estimated three million brown rats in the city, their genetic adaptations, rapid reproduction, and ability to thrive on urban waste make them formidable cohabitants. Researchers argue that understanding rat communication and behavior could improve urban planning and pest control, informing waste management, building design, and public health strategies. Instead of viewing rats as soulless pests, the study suggests they are complex, adaptable city dwellers.