New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a new measure to eliminate the city’s rat problem. Known as the “Rat Pack”, the volunteer program is dedicated to removing the rat population from the five boroughs. Bloomberg quotes Adams as saying the rat pack is an “elite squad of anti-rat activists”.
While New York residents are encouraged to apply, certain people are targeted to join. Adams lists these people as building superintendents, property managers, community gardeners, and business owners. In other terms, if someone owns a structure or area that potentially has a rat problem, Adams wants them in the “Rat Pack”.
“Rat Pack” training starts with a two-hour session at the Department of Health’s “rat academy”. Time Out says the training session is to “learn about safe and effective methods for rat prevention in your home and community”.
Those that complete the training session will then participate in a “rat walk”, learning how the rodents interact with the environment, how their biology affects their interactions, and how humans react to rats.
Upon completion of official training, “Rat Pack” members are encouraged to “join members of your community to come together and take direct action to make NYC a better place to live”.
Those who finish all three tasks will be emailed to certify their participation. Once the email is filled out, volunteers will receive their “Rat Pack” swag through the mail. Volunteers will get to choose between a shirt and a cap.
As for how the rat pack will set about eliminating NYC’s rat population, Adams discussed steps that might be taken during an official press event:
“From cutting our rats’ food supplies to closing down rat havens, Rat Pack members will be able to defend their communities from rodents, and achieve our goal of making New York City the least rat-friendly city in America. We need you to help reduce the rat population in our city, and the rat swag will be your badge of honor as you walk through your communities”.
Along with the “Rat Pack” the city also hired its first “Rat Czar” in 2023. Kathleen Corradi, Director of Rodent Mitigation, developed the city’s Zero Waste Schools program, which has released rodent reduction projects across 120 public schools.
Here’s to hoping the “Rat Pack” can help with the situation just as much.
