'Human behavior fuels rat behavior.' NYC's 'rat czar' encourages New Yorkers to join fight against city rats

Rat Czar Kathleen Corradi says although city agencies are on the front line, it's key for New Yorkers to get educated.

Elly Morillo

Sep 12, 2024, 10:22 AM

Updated 73 days ago

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Rats seem to be everywhere across the city, and agencies across the boroughs say the fight to eradicate them is far from over.
More than 2,000 rat sightings were reported by the city in the Bronx since January, including 330 sightings in Allerton and Norwood.
Rat Czar Kathleen Corradi says although city agencies are on the front line, it's key for New Yorkers to get educated.
"How they feed, where they live, the places they like to travel and then do our part to make sure garbage is getting in containers that we're clearing litter, clearing debris and working with our community, our whole block to take direct action. Looking at our world kind of through the lens of a rat thinking," said Corradi.
Later this month, the city will host a National Urban Rat Summit. It's a move Corradi says could be a game changer.
"The Rat Summit is bringing together academics from across the nation and municipal leaders to get in a room together and say, 'What do we know? What do we need to learn more about?'" said Corradi.
Corradi says signing up for initiatives like the city's Rat Pack could also help win the rat fight here at home.