Sourced from NYT | April 24, 2023 by Dodai Stewart
New York City has a new rat czar
and it is impossible to overstate the urgency of her mission. The rats are everywhere.
The city's residents have encountered rats in increasingly various places, including toilets, subway trains, and even their beds. The situation has become so dire that the mayor has appointed Kathleen Corradi as the new director of rodent mitigation to tackle the problem. And not a moment too soon as we are experiencing record numbers of rat sightings with no indication that the trend will reverse.
Numerous New Yorkers unnerving, horrifying tales clearly reveal the scope of Ms. Corradi’s near-impossible mission. One mother recounts how her daughter accidentally rolled over a mostly-dead rat with her backpack on the way to school. A woman living in Manhattan witnessed a rat flip itself from a glue trap to escape, while this man fell into a rat-infested sinkhole and refused to scream — fearing they would enter his mouth. These are just a few of the more colorful examples of let’s face it, far too many.
Rats are even making their way into people's homes more frequently. One person discovered rat feces in their bed and bathtub, while another had a rat jump out of their kitchen garbage bag, and parkour off their leg before disappearing behind the stove. These incidents highlight the widespread nature of the problem and the need for immediate action.
Stephen Speranza | The New York Times
The subway system is not exempt from rat encounters either. One individual had a rat walk across their foot while sitting on a train, causing them to shriek in horror. Such incidents can be particularly distressing, especially when coupled with the ridicule of onlookers.
Efforts to combat the rat infestation have been ongoing, but the rats remain resilient. Despite various methods used to control their population, including baits and traps, rats continue to thrive in the city. In some rare cases, rats have even fought back, as evidenced by one person who was bitten while trying to rescue it from their dog's grip, resulting in a trip to urgent care.
Despite the ongoing battle, it seems that rats, like cockroaches, possess an unwavering determination to survive and outlast humans.
New Yorkers have encountered rodents in toilets, on trains, and in bed. Can the city get the situation under control?
Rat Czar: Kathleen Corradi has been appointed to oversee efforts to drive down New York City’s burgeoning rat population. One person who didn't get the job is Curtis Sliwa, who suggested using feral cats to keep rats at bay.
Rat Tales: Ask New Yorkers for their most unnerving rat tales, and the scope of Corradi’s mission becomes uncomfortably clear.
A Possible Solution?: Trash containerization has been used in cities across Europe and Asia to keep garbage away from rats. Not so fast. In New York, nothing is that simple.
Car Trouble: Rats bedding down under car hoods is nothing new for New Yorkers, but lately the city’s auto body shops have seen the number of rodent-related issues climb significantly.
