Hoboken Rat Map Released: Where Are The Most Rats?

HOBOKEN, NJ — Where are the most rats in Hoboken?

A councilwoman has released a "rat map" of hotspots based on a survey she conducted of residents earlier this summer (see the map and explanation below).

Hoboken residents have been complaining for since last year about seeing rats around the mile-square city, a rare sight before.

Health officials in other cities with rat infestations have cited outdoor dining, rainfall, lockdown factors, and other reasons for the increase.

Earlier this summer, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher released an internet survey asking residents where they've seen the most rats.

Since then, the city has unveiled a new program around trash storage, requiring "tight fitting lids" and other measures. Buildings with 10 or fewer units have different rules from larger buildings (read more about that here).

The city will start enforcing new laws on Sept. 23, Fisher said.

"At the next City Council meeting, we will be voting on proposed legislation that clarifies that owners of outdoor dining areas are responsible for cleaning and pest control," FIsher said in her newsletter on Wednesday.

Here is the map of rat sightings that was compiled using the survey results. The map shows the number of residents identifying a certain corner or block.

Places identified by 1-4 people got only a dot; 5 or more got a number.

"485 people identified approximately 600 locations of rat infestations," Fisher said this week.

She noted, "It is more than a starting point, but it is not 100 percent accurate — for example it underrepresents the problems at the HHA." (The Hoboken Housing Authority public housing is located in the southwest part of town.)

Find out more from the survey here.

See the city's response to the rat problem here.

RELATED: Hoboken Man Catches 15 Rats In His Yard