Submission ID 118298
| Issue/Objective | Cities are wild spaces. Urbanization and densification are resulting in greater numbers of people living in cities. Alongside us, wildlife cohabitates, sharing our greenspaces, backyards, and even our homes. Urban spaces are coupled natural and human ecosystems, and present unique challenges to health. For example, wildlife can transmit a number of diseases to people, while human behaviours such as waste management can have both positive and negative impacts on wildlife. Of the wild animals that live in cities, rats are among the most pervasive globally. They harbour a number of pathogens transmissible to people and their close association with us can affect the mental health of residents. Recent research suggests that interactions with rats may continue to rise with climate change. For these reasons, comprehensive and proactive management strategies are critical to preventing, managing, and mitigating negative health outcomes at the human-rat interface. |
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| Methodology/Approach | To address the scope of this issue, we present comparative mixed-methods research from Vancouver, Canada and Chicago, USA where we conducted surveys and interviews with residents to understand the impacts of rats on their daily lives. |
| Results | Our findings demonstrate the uneven and inequitable distribution of rat-associated health risks in cities. For example, in Chicago, residents with daily exposure to rats had a 5.5x greater odds of having depressive symptoms, and this impact was greatest for low income residents. We also share recent findings from a toxicological study conducted in Chicago documenting widespread exposure of wildlife to rodenticides to illustrate how human actions can have unintended consequences for environmental health. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Drawing on systems thinking, socio-ecological frameworks and ecological management practice, we propose the development of a Rat Risk Index comprised of metrics related to rat infestation magnitudes and the consequences of infestations. We discuss the need to consider rat-associated impacts holistically (e.g., physical and mental health outcomes) as well as the importance of grounding these approaches in equity so that they prioritize those most vulnerable to rat-associated harms. The Rat Risk Index would leverage data sources depending on the settings and resources available to promote more adaptive and responsive management in cities that address local contexts and needs. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Kaylee Byers Simon Fraser University Danielle German Johns Hopkins Maureen Murray Lincoln Park Zoo Chelsea Himsworth University of British Columbia Jacqueline Buckley Northwestern University |
