You Told Us is a regular feature where we highlight comments from users in the communities DNAinfo New York covers.
NEW YORK CITY — As Upper East Siders shared horror stories of the "rat circus" they say takes control of their streets on a nightly basis, empathetic New Yorkers offered their condolences and advice on how to keep the rodents at bay.
Residents of East 88th Street said they've seen as many as two dozen rats swelling up from tree pits in their sidewalks, digging through garbage, fighting with each other in the streets and leaving behind a mess of droppings each morning.
"Sizeable rats just take control of the street," said resident Matthew Duemesi. "They made their way into our planters. They have underground tunnels. I watch them come across the street. They'll fight and come across. One of them came into the lobby. The problem persists."
The infestation — which locals say was worsened by condo construction nearby — has gotten so bad that the Health Department sent exterminators to two buildings on the block, near First Avenue, more than a dozen times last year, and assigned case managers to oversee the issue. But so far nothing has worked.
Here's what readers had to say about how to deal with the issue:
► Better laws
"First and foremost...enact law that requires all garbage be placed in rat-proof containers with lids. These containers are placed on the sidewalk for pickup and after their contents has been removed, they are placed back inside an interior area. MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO STORE FILLED PLASTIC BAGS OF ANY KIND ON THE STREET OR KEPT INSIDE REFUSE ROOMS.
Next, give the City of New York the authority to install the containers I noted where landlords refuse to comply. Also, if landlords refuse to correct violations pertaining to vermin infestation, mandate that these property owners be charged with a felony for failing to comply with health regulations that pose a health threat to their tenant," wrote samuel-goodman.
► Rat-proof bags
"All buildings should have to use Mint-X trash bags," reader Chloe253 said. "The rodents do not like the smell of mint blend and they do not get into the bags. Since we started using these in my building, we have had no rodents, but on 92nd and 93rd Street, the brownstones and smaller buildings just throw their trash out in any type of bag on the street and there are rats that get into the bags!! They should be required to put their trash into bins instead of piling up bags on the street...it is disgusting. Increased trash pick up by the city on these side streets may help also. As someone suggested.... What about introducing CATS??? SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...IT IS DISGUSTING."
► Recruit rat hunters
"As someone else notes, the best solution for this is the "natural" solution: partner with one of the many catch, spay/neuter and release feral cat agencies. I am sure they would be happy to relocate some of these cats if the city would underwrite the surgeries. That's bound to be way cheaper and more effective than baits and traps. Rats are smart (and, yes, they may just end up moving to a different neighborhood). Also maybe start adding a canine patrol of rat terriers. I used to have a rat terrier and I would let her go into the park after hours (and at risk of getting a summons) to hunt the infestations that the city seemed unable or unwilling to combat," said GypsyDax.
► Birth control?
"There was an idea floating around on the UWS whereby bait traps would be set with birth control. That became an issue in Central Park because of the nesting Perrigrine and/or Falcon population. That said, it is not a viable option for the park but would work in areas away from the park," adrian-gonzalez wrote.
► Stop with the waste
"I live near East 88th and First Avenue and know that a big factor in the 'Rat Circus' is that our streets are never really trash free. Rather, our streets and avenues are always strewn with garbage - a yummy slice of leftover baked ziti here, a half-eaten cup of chocolate pudding there - giving rats a virtual "delivery" service of food 24/7. Why? Sanitation workers do not pick up all the trash left on the street. They only pick up bagged trash. But the reality is that animals gnaw into these bags at night leaving behind small feasts for rats on every block. I walk by these mounds of thrown out food after the Sanitation truck has just left a block and think, "They need to be more vigilant!" I'm doing my part by picking up spilled food left on the street in front of my house that the garbage men refuse to touch with their gloved hands," said Sefword.
