Kathleen Corradi, the Director of Rodent Mitigation, also known as the Rat Czar, is spearheading efforts to educate New Yorkers through a program called Rat Walks. Taking place in all boroughs, this initiative aims to inform participants about rats, their behaviors, and how human actions can inadvertently support their presence. During a recent Rat Walk session in October, Corradi emphasized the importance of containment and behavior changes related to waste management, stating, “We are implementing various measures to ensure proper containerization and to promote responsible waste practices in this administration.”
With a budget of $3.5 million, Corradi’s mission is to diminish the rat population in the city. She stresses the crucial role of public awareness and proactive measures in achieving success, noting, “While extermination remains a component of our strategy, sustained progress hinges on preventive measures and community involvement.” Several New Yorkers residing in rat-prone areas shared their encounters with rodents, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In parallel efforts, Council Member Shaun Abreu introduced Bill 736, known as “Flaco’s Law,” which was passed in September 2024. This legislation advocates for the use of rat contraceptives in locations where garbage is securely contained, aiming to limit the rats’ food sources. Abreu emphasizes the importance of proper waste management to complement the contraceptive approach. Additionally, his office previously established Rat Mitigation Zones, allocating $11.5 million to support the initiative, resulting in a reduction of rat sightings in targeted areas.
Furthermore, a residential pilot program was launched in Harlem to containerize trash effectively, leading to a significant decrease in rat sightings. The successful outcomes of these initiatives underscore the potential of proactive measures in rat control. The implementation of rat contraceptives on city streets is scheduled for April 26, 2025, in collaboration with WISDOM Good Works to oversee the distribution and management of the contraceptive program.
The director of Good Works at DOM, Alaina Gonzalez-White, shared with ABC News that the birth control pellets are designed to be safer for all wildlife, not just rats. She explained, “It’s specifically formulated to target the reproductive system of an animal the size of a rat. Anything that consumes that rat will no longer be ingesting a toxic meal.” Supporting this endeavor is PETA, as confirmed by Ashley Byrne, a senior campaigner for the organization. Byrne emphasized that eliminating rat poison, also known as rodenticide, would lead to saving the lives of pets that may inadvertently encounter rats. She stated, “In the grand scheme of things, exterminating rats is not an effective solution. The only sustainable and compassionate approach is prevention. No creature should endure the prolonged agony and grim demise resulting from ingesting rat poison.”
Taking a humane approach to managing rat populations, Abreu expressed his personal mission, asserting, “I do not aim for rats to become extinct. Our objective is to coexist harmoniously in a manner that discourages rats from appearing. Our viewpoint strongly aligns with that of PETA. We firmly believe that in New York City, we must employ every possible tactic to tackle the issue, including cutting off the food supply and implementing measures to control rat reproduction at the root.”
The introduction of rat birth control and the implementation of ‘Rat Walks’ are among the innovative strategies being employed to address New York City’s rat population, as originally reported on abcnews.go.com.
