New Yorker's Snowy Dog Walk Reveals Shocking Rodent Infestation
Ashley Bez, a 42-year-old comedian from New York City, made a stomach-churning discovery during an early morning dog walk on February 16, 2026. While navigating a thin layer of fresh snow in her neighbourhood, she spotted thousands of tiny footprints scattered across the ground. Upon closer examination, she realized these were not random marks but rather a vast network of rat paw prints, revealing what she described as a "rat highway" operating under cover of darkness.
Viral TikTok Video Sparks Divided Reactions
Bez, who has 39,000 followers on TikTok, shared footage of the rodent footprints online, where it quickly went viral. The video has amassed an impressive 911,000 views and received 53,700 likes, sparking intense debate among viewers. "I felt like a scientist collecting data but like, for TikTok," Bez remarked about the experience. "I don't know if that's sad but it's true. These are the times we live in."
The comedian expressed her shock at the discovery, telling What's The Jam: "In my 24 years in the city I'd never seen it and was so shocked. How could something I usually see as gross be so adorable? Rats truly contain multitudes." She added that rats "grace me with their presence every time I'm walking around at night," suggesting this nocturnal activity is regular in her area.
Viewers Horrified and Charmed by Rodent Footprints
The viral clip generated sharply divided opinions among those who viewed it online. Some expressed horror at the scale of rodent activity revealed by the snowy footprints. One commenter declared: "People living with rats and it's normalised, you live in a sh*t city, literally." Another warned: "Where do you live so I can make sure to never be there at night."
Yet other viewers found the rat footprints strangely charming. "They are so cute," exclaimed one person, while another commented: "Rats and pigeons run the city and I say it with love, love them all." This division highlights how urban wildlife can provoke both disgust and fascination among city dwellers.
Snow Layer Exposes Nocturnal Rodent Activity
The thin blanket of snow served as an accidental tracking system, revealing just how bustling with rat activity Bez's neighbourhood becomes after dark. What would normally remain hidden was suddenly visible in stark detail, creating what appeared to be a mapped network of rodent pathways. The discovery has raised questions about urban pest control and how residents perceive the wildlife sharing their city spaces.
Bez's declaration that "rats rule this city" captures the unsettling realization that these rodents maintain extensive nocturnal networks throughout urban environments. The incident serves as a reminder that even in major metropolitan areas like New York City, nature maintains a persistent presence, sometimes in forms that challenge human comfort and sanitation standards.
