How To Really Take Care Of Rats In NYC, Humanely, Compassionately

Editor’s Note: In response to questions regarding controlling NYC’s rat population in a humane and, most importantly, effective manner, the following information was provided regarding humane and effective methods of birth control. 

For individuals living in homes with multiple residences, who may have housemates who place glue traps, any mouse or rat found on such a trap can be rescued, as long as they are still breathing.  Place one drop of olive oil on the side of the trap opposite the animal, then tilt the trap so the oil spreads out, dissolving the glue as it does.  Eventually the animal will be able to release themselves, whereupon you can release them outside, as suggested in PETA’s resource at the end of the article.

The following is a statement by Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA:

Better trash pick-up procedures and implementation of rat birth control are the keys to truly solving this situation, which has been caused by human misbehavior. PETA is urging the city to steer clear of cruel, ineffective killing methods, such as poisons or drowning, not only because rats feel pain and fear as much as any dog or cat or the “rat czar” herself but also because killing these resilient little animals would simply cause others to fill the void, creating an endless cycle—and job security for Corradi.

With regard to humane birth control as mentioned above, PETA uses SenesTech’s ContraPest, and we have observed a marked decrease in rat numbers at our waterfront headquarters in Virginia. ContraPest is a sweet, high-fat liquid that rats find very tasty, and it renders them sterile without causing harm.

And you guessed it! We do not support the use of cats to control rat populations—it’s both cruel and unsafe to force cats to live outside, and it’s a terrible way for rodent victims to die. Cats often “play” with the animals they catch, which prolongs their terror and suffering and can leave surviving victims with horrific injuries.

Solving New York City’s trash problem is the key to reducing the rat population humanely and permanently. Rats will be attracted to rotting, fetid trash as long as it’s piled up on sidewalks, thrown onto subway tracks, and overflowing park trash cans—and no “war” against these animals while these conditions persist will keep them at bay.

Until city leaders take trash mitigation seriously, here are some steps that individuals can take to keep unwanted guests out of their homes:

·       Focus on containing food sources by using chew-proof storage containers and keeping garbage cans tightly lidded.

·       Monitor rodent activity by using a flashlight to identify entry points. Look specifically for droppings, chewed areas, nests, and stored/cached food.

·       Drive out the rodents by placing ammonia-soaked rags in areas where indications of animals or their droppings are present.

·       Once animals are gone, use foam sealant, steel wool, hardware cloth, or metal flashing to seal entry points.

PETA additionally has this web feature with tips for controlling and coexisting rat populations: https://www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/living-harmony-wildlife/house-mice/

We previously published this article about Curtis Sliwa’s rat control through feral cats idea, which PETA does not support.

Banner Image: Mouse. Image Credit – slyfox photography

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, and PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally. PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment business. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of rodents, birds, and other animals who are often considered “pests” as well as cruelty to domesticated animals. PETA works through public education, investigative newsgathering and reporting, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.