Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Are Rats Taking Over Brooklyn Bridge Park?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 4, 2010
Modified Nov 4, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 4, 2010
Modified Nov 4, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city—the same city that just cut pest control aides on payroll from 84 to 57—is seeking a pest control service for Brooklyn Bridge Park. Is the ratdemic creeping into the shiny new waterfront park? Of course not! At least, that's what they want you to think. President of the city development corporation, Regina Myer, told the NY Post there's "absolutely not" a rodent issue, and that the contract is about be "pro-active" so there's never an issue.
Locals, however, are singin' a different tune—many have spotted rats and muskrats near the children's playground at Pier 6. The muskrats would reportedly not be targeted by the pest control service, however—so they just need to be able to, you know, survive the rat poison.
According to A Walk In The Park (click that, if only to see the GIANT rat-in-a-bag photo), the Request For Proposals (RFP) put out by the city stated, "The Contractor shall furnish all supervision, labor, materials and equipment necessary to accomplish the monitoring, management and pest removal components of the pest program. The Contractor shall perform inspections... in order to maintain, control and to prevent infestations." Smells like a rat to us.
Tagged
brooklyn bridge park
pest control
ratdemic
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .