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Report: Rats Settling Down In Upper West Side Cars
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 24, 2014
Modified Mar 24, 2014
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 24, 2014
Modified Mar 24, 2014
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Parked cars in frigid urban environments are essentially rat condos, offering all the amenities a young, professional rodent could want: toothsome wires, plenty of bathrooms (everything is a bathroom) and warmth. The next "It" neighborhood for the city's discerning rat? The Upper West Side.
West Side Rat Rag reports that one of their readers just took her car into the shop for the second time in a month due to rat-related issues:
In the past month, I have had two incidents where my engine had problems. I brought my car to be serviced and was told both times that rats had gotten under my hood and had chewed the wiring. This resulted in about $800 worth of repairs to my car. I was told by the service center (located in midtown) that they have seen this several times before this winter, as the rodents are looking for warm places to stay.
I actually met a woman in the waiting room, also a west-sider (lives in the upper 60s), that said this has happened to her car three times in the past 2 years! ….and she parks in a garage!
I’m wracking my brain trying to think of solutions to prevent this from happening again. I do park on the street, but I move my car daily to drive to work. Additionally, I am careful not to park near trash or restaurants. I’ve searched for solutions online to keep the rats away, but I have hit a wall.
This video made by Pest Control Experts recommends spraying a solution of hot sauce and dish soap around your car every time you park, but this seems like an aperitif for New York City rats. You're better off leaving a case of Corona on your hood and hope they drink themselves to death before they reach your transmission.
Tagged
Rat Epidemic
rats
Upper West Side
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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