The Lower East Side now has the worst rat problem in the city

The rats are moving downtown. 

Following in the path of the Whitney, Dylan’s Candy Bar and many New Yorkers before them, NYC’s rat population has been enticed by the fast-paced lifestyle of Downtown Manhattan, and now can be found predominately below 14th Street.

Community District 3, which covers the East Village, Lower East Side and Chinatown, beat out Uptown this year (last year's champ) for the section of the city with the worst rat problem. Congratulations, Lower East Side. 

The Department of Health’s annual rat indexing ranks New York districts based on factors like fresh rodent tracks, teeth marks, holes, droppings and active rat signs. It does not, however, take into affect rats' ballet or culinary skills.

h/t DNAinfo