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The Problems And Possibilities Of Rats : 1A If you live in a U.S. city, you've likely seen a rat or two running around. According to the pest control company, Orkin, an estimated 21 million U.S. homes face rodent invasions, each fall.

But rats play a much larger role in human history. These creatures have been sacrificed for the advancement of scientific research.

Rats are complicated — and it inspire equally complicated feelings in us.

This year, New York City held its first ever annual national urban rat summit to address the city's chronic rat problems.

Rats pose real health and safety risks to human, we discuss what we lose by only seeing them as pests.

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The Problems And Possibilities Of Rats

The Problems And Possibilities Of Rats

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A zootechnician holds a laboratory rat at the University of Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

A zootechnician holds a laboratory rat at the University of Geneva.

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

They shimmy through cracks and root through trash. They scurry across alleyways and hide in metro tunnels. Sometimes, they even dart right in front of your feet.

These creatures have also been sacrificed for the advancement of scientific research and love to play hide and seek for fun. The animal we're discussing today is complicated — and it inspires equally complicated feelings in us.

If you live in a U.S. city, you've likely seen a rat or two running around. Each fall, an estimated 21 million U.S. homes face rodent invasions. That's according to Orkin, the pest control company.

This year, New York City held its first ever annual national urban rat summit to address the city's chronic rat problems. Rats pose real health and safety risks to human.

But what do we lose by only seeing them as pests?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.