Could be worse; they could be mutant rat people.

If you’ve ever been to New York City, then you know that seeing rats is just part of the trip. But as of late, the rat infestation seems to be taking over the entire city!

According to numerous reports, rat sightings in New York soared by 38% between 2014 and 2018. More than 17,000 rats were were reported in 2018, and the number of city health inspections that found active signs of rats nearly doubled to almost 31,000.

Gentrification is being looked at as one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of rats. As construction workers raze buildings and tear up the ground to create new buildings, rats have become more widespread and are making their way out into the open. Climate change is also being cited as a reason for the rat population increase, as the milder winters make it easier for rats to survive and reproduce.

However, the biggest factor may be the city’s trash collection. Trash bags are often left curbside for hours, making them easily accessible to rats. In 2017, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio launched a $32 million plan to increase litter basket pickups and deploy rat-resistant steel cans. Unfortunately, the success of this plan was fleeting.

Mayor of Operations Laura Anglin said the city is still actively taking action against the infestation. She says, “This administration takes seriously our responsibility to control and mitigate their population. We are committed to continuing the work of controlling rats in all of our neighborhoods.”