Open Data Tells NYC Residents Where the Rats Are 93
itwbennett writes "The New York City Health Department's Rat Information Portal provides raw data on where the rats are, based on inspections done by the health department, as well as by their rat indexing initiative. The portal isn't a new open data initiative, but if you're a NYC resident and not a big fan of rodents, the site is worth a look. 'The most interesting part of the portal is the interactive heat map of rat inspection data,' says ITworld's Phil Johnson. 'Using this interactive map, you can look up the inspection history, going back to 2009, for any address in the five boroughs. It will tell you the dates and results of any inspections, as well of any follow up compliance checks. As for raw data, the site provides city-wide rat reports, aggregated to the zip code level, going back to 2006.'"
Re:Thankfully it's NYC (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Thankfully it's NYC (Score:5, Interesting)
Urban rats are manageable if people aren't pigs. But we've got rats here in Chicago who can chew through a heavy-duty plastic municipal garbage bin. At first, I would see these big bites taken out of the garbage can lids and I had no idea what they were, then one day I'm walking the dog and she scares a rat who was sitting on top of the can chewing the lid. It was the first one I'd seen.
Considering how few rats I've actually set eyes on and the number of bites taking out of the garbage cans out in the alley, Chicago rats must wear cloaks of invisibility or something. I'm out walking the dog 365 days a year, morning, noon and night and I've probably seen two rats in 10 years.
Racoons on the other hand are another story. There were some living under the gutter of the house that was being renovated a few doors away. They were as big as Shetland ponies. I mean giant. And they make this weird mewling/growling sound that sounds like they're possessed by Satan.
Urban wildlife. Dude.