1740: Brown rats arrived in North America via shipping networks, outcompeting black rats in cities.
A new study published in Science Advances indicates that brown rats, known as common rats or sewer rats, arrived in North America around 1740 and rapidly outcompeted black rats to conquer American cities. Shipping networks across the Atlantic Ocean functioned as "rat superhighways," providing the early footholds for the brown rats in coastal shipping centers. The preference of brown rats for ground-level environments made them more adaptable to city life than their black counterparts. The findings may help inform better strategies to manage and control rat populations.
April 03, 2024
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