photo credit: Suzanne DeChillo/ The New York Times
on "The First (And Hopefully Last) rat Festival" In Carroll Park 2005
***If you have seen rats in other parts of the neighborhood, please leave a comment. It will help the city to bait more efficiently.***
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You know you have an infestation, when you see rats running around in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Carroll Park right now. The Park workers are reporting that rodents have been sighted not only in the flowerbeds and in the open areas, but droppings were also found in the park house. This is not the first time that our park has been over-run by rats.
Back in the summer and fall of 2005, the Committee To Improve Carroll Park, of which I am a member, notified the Parks Department that we had a real rodent problem.
Though the department tried hard to bait and get the problem under control, it was apparent to the Committee, that an inter-departmental effort was needed. (After all, the subway runs under the Smith Street side of the park) However, trying to get the other agencies, like the Sanitation Department and the MTA, to co-operate was hard.
In an effort to draw attention to the problem, the C.I.C.P. organized a "First (and hopefully last) Rat Festival" on the same day other parks around the city were hosting their official "It's My Park Day!" The event included relay rat races, the adopt-a rat program, eatable gummy rats were handed out as prizes and a giant inflatable rat, generously lent by a labor union, stood guard in front of the Park House.)
On First (And Hopefully Last) Rat Festival day, Carroll Park 2005
That got results! The event's press coverage got the city administration's attention and the necessary help to combat the rats. The problem seemed under control, until now that is..
Though the department tried hard to bait and get the problem under control, it was apparent to the Committee, that an inter-departmental effort was needed. (After all, the subway runs under the Smith Street side of the park) However, trying to get the other agencies, like the Sanitation Department and the MTA, to co-operate was hard.
In an effort to draw attention to the problem, the C.I.C.P. organized a "First (and hopefully last) Rat Festival" on the same day other parks around the city were hosting their official "It's My Park Day!" The event included relay rat races, the adopt-a rat program, eatable gummy rats were handed out as prizes and a giant inflatable rat, generously lent by a labor union, stood guard in front of the Park House.)
On First (And Hopefully Last) Rat Festival day, Carroll Park 2005C.I.C.P. is determined to attack the problem head-on and not to wait till it 'multiplies.' The committee is reaching out to the Park's Department, will hang up fliers informing the general public, as well as encouraging people to clean up after themselves and asking them to refrain from feeding birds and squirrels.
But we all need to help!
***If you have seen rats in other parts of the neighborhood, please leave a comment. It will help the city to bait more efficiently.***
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6 comments:
I live on the south side of President St between Smith & Hoyt (closer to Hoyt). This is the second summer we have seen rats in our patio & backyard, at least three times this past summer (those are the ones we actually saw; who knows how many more there might have been that we didn't see). There have also been numerous mouse sightings. I find this thoroughly disgusting and unacceptable. I have lived here my entire life (50+ years), and never have we had rats in our yard. We complained to Assemblywoman Millman's office last year, but nothing really came of it except reporting it to the Sanitaton Dept which sent an inspector to look around on the block and didn't see any "evidence." We have a small dog, so baiting is out of the question for us. Traps are also out; what do I do when the trap works? I also find it just repulsive that some of my own neighbors just take it in stride and shrug it off. Can you believe it? The city must become much more aggressive in the battle, especially along Smith Street, where I suspect the root of the problem lies.
I live in a large bldg. on Nevins and Sackett, and last night, I saw a rat the size of of small cat inside the building, near the front door.. I couldn't believe the size of it. Luckily it scurried away under the stairwell - but of course, I am not comfortable. And where you see one rat, there are likely many more. Yech!
Rats on 2nd street,carroll st.and smith st.,also in the back yards!!
they are everywhere. Even camping out near a extremely popular Smith st eatery. Its like a comedy routine late night residents walking by and all of a sudden EEECK!!! as they scurry under the fence. They follow the same path due to the scents they leave as a trail of sorts. I agree the neighborhood is overrun with them
I saw a huge rat behind a restaurant on the corner of Smith and Baltic.
Don't feed the rats?
Good luch with that!
Along with the eateries stinky garbage in the streets,the open trash cans in a lot of front-yards are good places to feed the rats, pigeons and other squirrels.
Complaining to elected officials ( as suggested in an above comment ) will not change.
May be, publishing pictures of these places will help to see some changes.
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