If you want to catch rats forget the cheese, you have to build a better rat trap.
That’s exactly what Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams did after the outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall became plagued with the vermin. And today he showed off a number of the furry little critters’ carcasses that were caught and killed over the course of a month between August and September with four devices stationed around Borough Hall.
The device uses bait to lure rats into an enclosed space, activating a trap door. The rat falls into a vinegar-alcohol solution, killing it in a humane, odor-free, hygienic way. A counter is then automatically updated to show how many rats have been captured.
“Rat sightings are becoming more common across Brooklyn,” said Adams. “These rodents are not only a nuisance, but they present a health hazard to our communities. And the City’s efforts to contain the rat population in recent years have clearly failed. Our pilot program shows that there is a sustainable way to mitigate rat problems in a way that causes no inconvenience to businesses or residents. It’s time for the City to follow our lead and use a solution that works.”
Joining Adams at the event highlighting the new rat traps and expanding the pilot program to use them were city Council Member Robert Cornegy (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights), Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights), the Bedford-Stuyvesant Gateway Business Improvement District and Brooklyn Community Board 3 members.
The pilot comes as Brooklyn contends with a rise in rat infestations. A recent study by RentHop found that Brooklyn called in 6,500 rat complaints to 311 in 2018, the most in the five boroughs. In particular, the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Bushwick have reported an uptick in rat sightings. In Eastern Bed-Stuy, there were 446 rat-sighting complaints last year. In Northern Bushwick, there were 274 complaints.
During the press conference, Adams called on the city to scale up this pilot program to help address areas with rat issues throughout the five boroughs.
“It was my pleasure to partner up with Borough President Adams to begin a campaign to combat the rodent epidemic in our City. He had the foresight to see that our product would have great potential in his fight against this rodent crisis,” said Pat Marino, from Rat Trap, the company that built and manufactures the better rat trap.
Cornegy said the rat trap pilot program at Brooklyn Borough Hall builds on work being done through the city to reduce the rat population.
“Creative initiatives and smart investments signal a commitment to improving public health and quality of life. We must ensure that we are equipping the Department of Sanitation with the tools needed to effectively manage waste collection, and ensure commercial waste hauling services stay affordable to prevent illegal dumping,” said Cornegy, who has just seen his district get approved for a long sought after sanitation garage.
Cumbo thanks Adams for his efforts in the rodenticide pilot program aimed at curbing the rat population around Borough Hall.
“As rat infestations continue to cause issues throughout the borough, neighborhoods in my district like Prospect Heights and Bed-Stuy are most affected. With our growing population and constant new developments, it is imperative that we work together as a community to bring about effective, long-term results. We can always count on BP Adams to hold our community to the highest standards of sanitation and health,” said Cumbo.
