Brian Laird on W.N.C. and for the last 15 minutes of our show,

Rats in your cars.

Ew!

What?

Yeah, rats can be found in almost every environment on Earth.

They are among the most successful mammals in the world. found in almost every environment on earth.

They are among the most successful mammals in the world,

and their thriving population here in New York City

has been a frequent topic for Mayor Eric Adams,

who makes no, who does not disguise his hatred and revulsion for rats.

There will to survive though sometimes takes them from the streets into homes, workplaces, and yes, even your car.

So for our last few minutes today, we're going to dwell on that last one.

Some recent headlines tell the story. Maybe you've seen this from Anna Tim's

in The Guardian. Help! A rat ate my car and it's costing me thousands. And from Ginger Adams

Otis in the Wall Street Journal, a New York professor wages epic battle against rats attacking his car.

And I'm sure some of you have your own stories to tell about the shock and horror of

opening up the hood of your car to find a rat or even a rat's nest. So what makes your

car so hospitable to the ubiquitous Quitter? Well, joining me now,

Jason Munchee South, urban ecologist

and professor of biology at Fordham.

We'll also talk a little bit about a guest essay

he wrote in August in the New York Times under the headline,

...