20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About Futurama

7. Rats Are So 2000

Ever noticed there's a lot of owls in New New York? That's not just because the writers like the wise old things, but because in the Futurama world they're the new generation of vermin. And it's not just an attempt to make the future seem weird; there's a proper justification for it.

To rid NNY of rats and pigeons, hordes of owls were released into the streets. Unfortunately, they ended up much worse than the pests they were getting rid of; they're more common and cover more than just street level.

Originally a front and centre running joke in the show, it sort of fell by the wayside in the later seasons. Look closely, however, and you'll still see them popping up in the odd episode.