Mutating mice becoming growing problem in New York City, researchers say
NEW YORK CITY -- New York City has spent years battling its notorious rat problem, but a new study suggests rodents may be adapting to many of the methods used to exterminate them.
Researchers at Rutgers University examined rodent samples collected from New York City, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and the Philadelphia region and found evidence that mice are evolving rapidly, with many carrying genetic mutations that help them survive poisons designed to kill them.
"They show a much higher mutation frequency than we thought before," said JinJia Yu, a Rutgers postdoctoral fellow.
According to the study, roughly 70% of the mouse populations sampled contained mutations linked to resistance to commonly used rodenticides.
"From those samples, we found that about 70% of the mice populations contained mutations," Rutgers entomologist Changlu Wang said.
The findings come as New York City continues its highly publicized effort to reduce rat populations through expanded sanitation measures, increased inspections and targeted extermination campaigns.
Researchers say rats are not mutating in the same way as mice, but they are still adapting. The study found many rats have learned to avoid traps and other extermination techniques over time.
Experts say the pest control industry has noticed the changes in recent years, with some treatments taking longer to work than they once did.
As rodents continue to evolve, researchers warn that pest control strategies must evolve as well.
Experts recommend reducing reliance on pesticides and instead focusing on prevention measures such as proper trash storage, eliminating food sources and improving sanitation practices. They say those efforts can help reduce rodent populations while limiting the development of additional resistance to pesticides.
Researchers also note that developing new pest-control chemicals can take years and significant investment, making it important to preserve the effectiveness of existing products.
While rodents have been adapting to modern pesticides for decades, researchers say studies examining those changes in the United States are relatively new. They hope additional research will help communities better understand how rodents are evolving and how cities like New York can stay ahead in the ongoing fight against pests.
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