Rodents have long been a nuisance in urban areas, but one pivotal decision made nearly five decades ago may have set the stage for their reign of terror. In 1971, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of certain pesticides, including DDT, which had been a primary tool in controlling rodent populations. While the ban was intended to protect human health and the environment, it inadvertently created a power vacuum that rodents have exploited to the fullest. As a result, cities worldwide have been plagued by infestations of rats and mice, causing billions of dollars in damage and posing significant health risks to humans.
How one monumental decision in 1971 led to the rodents’ reign of terror.
