As part of an initiative aimed at reducing New York City’s substantial rodent population, people are being pushed to volunteer at the “Rat Academy”, where they can become more educated on the furry creatures that can be found across the city, particularly in more populated areas.
Last month, Mayor Eric Adams and the Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation Kathleen Corradi, also known as the “rat czar,” announced the launch of the “NYC Rat Pack,” an effort designed to get more New Yorkers involved with the regulation of rodents in the city.
This is the latest in Adams’ “war on rats,” which has included implementing new garbage set-out times and a corresponding collection schedule that minimizes the time trash sits on the curb and increases the use of containers citywide. Last year, his administration reported the city’s four rat mitigation zones (Bronx Grand Concourse, Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant/Bushwick, and East Village/Chinatown) saw rat sighting calls decrease by an average of more than 45 percent.
People who attend a two-hour Rat Academy session, participate in a city rat mitigation event, and attend a “rat walk” hosted by Corradi, will become official members of the “New York City Rat Pack,” billed as an “elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists.” Membership perks include a T-shirt and a hat, according to the Adams administration.
Since the group was announced, city officials have had to cap registration due to the large number of signups. According to the data from the local health department, an average of 191 participants attend each event, Gothamist reported.
Last month, the city also announced a mandate for trash bins in most homes starting in November, as part of an effort to keep rats away from trash piled on sidewalks. Department of Sanitation officials have also revealed a new plan to scoop up garbage with the help of new high-tech trucks and hundreds of Spanish-made bins that would be installed in parking spaces across West Harlem.
Next month, the Adams administration is set to host its first-ever “Rat Summit” with leading experts and researchers in the field.
“The reason why we want to control rats is because we want to promote healthier environments and reduce the risk of any health transmissions,” said Martha Vernazza, a community organizer for the city health department, while leading a Tuesday training session, Gothamist reported. “And we want to increase the quality of life for New York and New Yorkers.”
