We and our vendors use cookies and similar methods (“Cookies”) to recognize visitors and remember their preferences. We also use Cookies for a variety of purposes, including analytics, to measure marketing effectiveness and to target and measure the effectiveness of ads. You can accept or reject the use of Cookies for individual purposes below. Some vendors process your data on the basis of their legitimate interest - you can object to such processing below. Your preferences will be saved in a cookie named “fides_consent” for a maximum duration of 12 months, as well as in your registered user account if you are logged in. If you previously accepted these methods through our prior banner, then we will use your data for targeting. Your preferences will apply on nytimes.com, as well as our News, Cooking, Games and Audio apps. Your preferences here are unrelated to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency Framework.
Supported by
City data actually suggest that rat sightings are declining. But horror stories are everywhere, and one rat in a stroller is enough to set off a panic.
By Christopher Maag
Rachel Chase, a longtime New Yorker, is used to seeing rats in Central Park. Rats rattling the bushes. Rats scurrying across sidewalks. Rats lurking just behind fences, their little black eyes alert.
