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I went to NYC’s Rat Academy. Here’s what I learned.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 28, 2024
Modified Aug 28, 2024
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Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 28, 2024
Modified Aug 28, 2024
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A group of New Yorkers spent hours this week learning about the daily lives, diet and reproductive activity of rats as part of the first step in joining a new volunteer program for residents who want to rid New York City of its rodent population.
A Gothamist reporter attended a "Rat Academy" training session on Tuesday to find out what people were learning. Mayor Eric Adams introduced the initiative last month as a way to involve more New Yorkers in his "war on rats."
People who attend a two-hour Rat Academy session, participate in a city rat mitigation event and attend a “rat walk” hosted by the city’s rat czar, Kathy Corradi, will become official members of the "New York City Rat Pack," billed as an "elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists." Membership perks include a T-shirt and a hat, according to the Adams administration.
Since the group was announced, city officials have had to cap registration due to the large number of signups. An average of 191 participants attend each event, according to the data from the local health department.
The Gothamist reporter signed up for the 5 p.m. webinar, which was geared toward community gardeners, and a link appeared in her inbox just minutes before the session began.
Over the next two hours, participants watched a crash course slideshow about the Norway rat, New York City's most common rat breed.
One slide detailed the rats’ subterranean paths, from the entrance all the way to the escape hole. Although the burrowing rodent can climb when necessary, it prefers to live in burrows as deep as 18 inches underground, officials said.
The session was interrupted several times as participants messaged the panelists about audio or connectivity issues. Other participants opted to listen via a dial-in option.
“The reason why we want to control rats is because we want to promote healthier environments and reduce the risk of any health transmissions,” said Martha Vernazza, a community organizer for the city health department who led the training session. “And we want to increase the quality of life for New York and New Yorkers.”
The department first began hosting Rat Academy training sessions earlier in August. Toward the end of Tuesday's session, Maddie Perlman-Gabel, a coordinator with the agency, spoke about the city’s mosquito rates and other mitigation tools for rats and other pests.
While there are no in-person training sessions slated for September, four virtual trainings are scheduled.
The city last month announced a mandate for trash bins in most homes starting in November, as part of an effort to keep rats away from trash piled on sidewalks. Sanitation officials also have plans to scoop up garbage with the help of new high-tech trucks and hundreds of Spanish-made bins that would be installed in parking spaces across West Harlem.
The Adams administration is set to host its first-ever “Rat Summit" with leading experts and researchers next month.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated when a city trash bin mandate would go into effect. It was announced last month and will take effect in November. This story has also been updated to reflect that a new style of truck will be deployed in the spring.
Tagged
sanitation
new york city
parks
animals
eric adams
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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