Wildlife Adventures in the Concrete Jungle: A Comical Peek into NYC’s Furry Tenants

Summary

Living in New York City is like starring in a non-stop wildlife documentary — only instead of David Attenborough narrating your every move, it’s just you, your groceries, and a mouse or two doing the cha-cha at the corner of your eye. After years of peaceful coexistence in an ancient elevator building, my rodent-free reign came crashing down as a mini rodent parade waltzed underneath my radiator. Picture it: six cute little mice darting about like they were part of a Broadway ensemble. I thought about sending them an audition invite, but alas, the building’s friendly super informed me that construction chaos had sent our furry friends on a field trip through my apartment. Out came the glue traps — three unfortunate mice later, I emerged victorious! 🐭💪 This mouse mishap got me pondering our city’s other uninvited guests. Let’s talk rodents! The classic house mouse measures about five inches (not forgetting that tail, mind you) and has more attitude than a New Yorker during rush hour. Meanwhile, New York’s rat population rivals the city’s celebrity count — the charming “Norway rats” (also known as sewer rats, can you blame them for wanting to find homes?!) are about nine inches long and can often be seen enjoying a late-night pizza crust while the “Roof rats” prefer keeping their tails (longer than a mini hot dog) up high in the trees. Now, about those adorable outdoor dining sheds we saw during the pandemic: Turns out they weren’t just warm spots for humans. The city had a little rodent party — complaints about rats skyrocketed to a staggering 15% increase, which meant our furry pals were living their best lives while we dined al fresco. Ironically, even Mayor Adams got a little too cozy with the critters when a health inspector found rat droppings at one of his properties. My, my, even lawmakers can’t escape the NYC rodent drama! If you think mice and rats are headline news, wait till you hear about the bugs. Almost 30% of households report hosting cockroaches. Yes, those little critters easily outnumber most Tinder dates! American and German cockroaches are the reigning champions of indoor pests, popping up like surprise guests at your late-night snack. From flies that could cause a scene worthy of a horror flick to bed bugs that throw sleepless raves on your mattress, NYC is basically an uninvited insect circus. And let’s not forget about mosquitoes with their summer block parties, spreading their new friend, the West Nile virus – fashionably dangerous! Our buzzing bee friends are far sweeter, however, with over 200 species doing the hard work of pollinating our parks. Who knew the Big Apple was a hive of activity? And while we are on the subject of wildlife, Adrian Benepe, a nifty nature-lover from Brooklyn Botanic Garden, mentioned how we’ve swapped pigeons for majestic bald eagles, turning the city into a feathered fantasy land! Feral cats have become the hip, neighborhood cats, with as many as a million roaming the streets like they own the place (spoiler alert: they do!). And don’t get me started on the cast of characters: chipmunks, raccoons, and even a coyote are all vying for their own New York City episode. In the end, whether it’s the heartwarming sight of a bald eagle soaring above Prospect Park or a gang of mice that crash your cozy night in, New York is a wild, bustling ecosystem. In this bustling asphalt jungle, with people glued to their phones and critters swarming around, there’s a reminder everywhere you look — the city’s alive, and we’re just sharing it with every furry, creepy-crawly critter that calls it home. Say cheese! 🧀🐾

Original Source: www.counterpunch.org