Forget bedbugs - rats still haunt most New York City dreams

[Shortline Bus]

Forget bedbugs - rats still haunt most New York City dreams

 

BY T.J. Raphael, Andrew Phillips and Matthew Bultman

DAILY NEWS WRITERS

 

Thursday, October 21st 2010

 

"Bedbugs may be the latest pests in town, but rats still command top billing in the nightmares of many New Yorkers.

 

A new survey of Manhattan residents shows that rats are still scurrying all over the place - with Harlem taking the top spot for the "rattiest" neighborhood in the borough.

 

"First bedbugs, now rats - and always crime. It's all a part of New York. I'm not shocked, I'll tell you that," said 20-year-old Harlem student Maria Rodrigues.

 

Out of 200 people polled by pest control company d-CON, 24% said they thought Harlem had the most rats.

 

That was followed by the lower East Side with 18% and Washington Heights with 10%.

 

"There are rats everywhere," said Radhames Santos, 30, of Washington Heights. "They're like cats."

 

The survey, however, found the problem was widespread, with neighborhoods all over Manhattan being overrun by rodents.

 

In Hell's Kitchen - which came in fourth place with 9% - residents say it sometimes feels like the persistent pests are lurking around every corner.

 

"I've seen people standing on cars screaming. They come out of the basement and run all over the streets," said 53-year-old Nick Apongalook. "It doesn't matter if it's garbage day or not. It's a pandemic."

 

Of those polled, 25% said the first thing they do when they see a rat is scream. Some brave souls - 21% of those who responded - said they try to chase or catch the creatures.

 

Another 15% set traps, while 5% say they get a cat.

 

"Some of my friends have had problems in their houses. They are always buying traps," said 27-year-old Jennifer Rolon, a Washington Heights teaching assistant.

 

The city Health Department said it is keenly aware of the problem and has been working on new initiatives to battle rats.

 

A pilot screening program in the Bronx has resulted in an 83% decrease in the number of properties reporting rodent infestations, the department said.

 

The program was expanded into Manhattan and Queens earlier this year.

 

For Manuel Parkas, 40, of Harlem, there's only one solution. "It is very simple. If you keep your home clean, you won't have any rats to deal with. If you do not, you will have rats to deal with," he said.

 

Thomas Canty, a 34-year-old livery cab driver from Harlem, said none of this should surprise anyone. "Man, rats have been all over New York forever. That ain't nothing new," he said."

 

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/21/2010-10-21_aw_rats_they_still_rule_city.html#ixzz134cOP61S

[CenSin]

I had a mice problem about 6 years ago, but no more. The mice themselves aren't bothersome, but it's the crap they leave behind.

[Forest Glen]

[LRG]

 

Yeah, the subway has a huge rodent problem. They should look into more ways to get rid of the rats instead of investing on other unnecessary BS such as Wi-Fi in the system.

[CenSin]

Yeah, the subway has a huge rodent problem. They should look into more ways to get rid of the rats instead of investing on other unnecessary BS such as Wi-Fi in the system.

I'll tell you what the one problem is: litter—the stuff that rodents thrive on. What causes litter? Dirty New Yorkers. The methods to solve this problem vary, but…

 

First of all, screen doors will be needed on platforms for the purpose of keeping rodents out of tunnels. Because dirty New Yorkers are prevented from throwing edibles into the track beds, rodents will cease to thrive inside the tunnels. I would not be surprised if these tunnels today are the very source of all rodents that plague the city.

 

Second, stations need to be cleaned thoroughly followed by regular inspections and enforcement of cleanliness laws (if they even exist).

 

Third, enforcement should extend above ground to litter-susceptible neighborhoods (like Coney Island, where people don't even clean up after their dog poop on the sidewalks). If heavy fines (see Singapore, where trash is extremely short-lived) are imposed, the city also has a profit motive to make it happen.

[Fresh Pond]

Yeah, the subway has a huge rodent problem. They should look into more ways to get rid of the rats instead of investing on other unnecessary BS such as Wi-Fi in the system.

 

Well what do you expect, the subway is like a halfway house for the rats...up above there's the streets and down below is the sewers

[St Louis Car 09]

 

Nuff said.

[B35 via Church]

well, to be frank with all of you...

 

the SUBway is what it is... predominantly underground....

you know what else is underground... our sewer system.

 

Quite frankly, I'd rather master splinter ass stay BELOW my basement....

[Joe]

You only find subway rats in and around the stations. There are practically no rats between stations.

[East New York]

You only find subway rats in and around the stations. There are practically no rats between stations.

 

When I lived in Ft. Greene, I used to see them all the time in the park. They would hunt mice at night.