Most of us are itching to get back outside after spending months inside due to stay-at-home orders. But it may not be what we envision, in the post-COVID-19 world could be a real rat race, reports the New York Post.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new advisory warning that rats and other rodents have become more aggressive due to humans staying inside over the past few months.
“Community-wide closures have led to a decrease in food available to rodents, especially in dense commercial areas,” the CDC said. “Some jurisdictions have reported an increase in rodent activity as rodents search for new sources of food…Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to rodents and reports of unusual or aggressive rodent behavior.”
It has been reported that rats in urban areas struggled with finding food during the lockdown and even resorted to rodent cannibalism. Apparently, the rodents are acting just like you, and I would if given the same scenario. “They’re mammals just like you and I, and so when you’re really, really hungry, you’re not going to act the same-you’re going to act very bad, usually,” Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist, told NBC News. “So these rats are fighting with one another, now the adults are killing the young in the nest and cannibalizing the pups.”
The CDC urges residents and restaurant owners to adhere to the established guidelines for cleaning up after rodent infestations to prevent exposure to rodent-borne diseases. There is also the possibility of rodents carrying fleas; therefore, workers should consider using a repellent registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Lastly, everyone should seal any holes that could allow rodents to gain entry, as well as clear debris and garbage that attracts them.
Consider this your warning of a possible wave of “aggressive rodent behavior” as society begins to reopen.
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