-
Transit ups attack on rats
Photo credit: Urbanite
The city is testing bait boxes in the subways that lure rats to eat poison (shown in green).
(NYC Transit)
It's the war on rats 2.0.
The city has upped its ammunition against rodents foraging on food and litter in subways, installing boxes of bait to track and poison rats.
The $10 contraptions contain lethal bait that is vermin's version of a “granola bar,” said Robert Corrigan, a pest control scientist for the health department
“It's like they went into a cafeteria,” Corrigan said.
About a dozen bait boxes commonly used by exterminators were placed last month underneath the platforms at the Franklin Street stop that serves the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 trains.
The subways have not experienced an increase in rat activity, city and transit officials said. Instead, the city's rat taskforce is using the pilot program to increase its understanding of which stations attract rodents.
It's the first change in the city's underground battle against rats in 20 years, said transit president Howard Roberts.“Clearly, [rats] are a problem for us,” Roberts said. “This is a more targeted approach.”
The bait boxes will be added to other stations and monitored for eight months before the city decides whether to expand the program. The contraptions are tamper-proof, Corrigan said.
- Follow Us
advertisement | advertise on am New York
advertisement | advertise on am New York
Partners
Search cars
