'Rat Academy' To Teach West Village Residents How To Beat Rodents

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Hate rats? Want to do something about it? There's a free rat prevention training coming up for everyone from building superintendents and tenants to community garden members.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson is hosting a "Rat Academy" in his district with the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene later this month.

The free training will discuss safe and effective methods for rat prevention, according to a flier from Johnson's office. Rodent-resistant garbage cans will be raffled off at the event.

The 'Rat Academy' is scheduled for Thursday, August 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 75 Morton St., where the schools 75 Morton/M.S. 297 are located.

Though rodent sightings have been dropping citywide, some neighborhoods, such as Bed-Stuy and Chinatown saw 311 rat complaints increase last year, according to a data analysis from RentHop.

In the West Village, there is an average of 118 rodent complaints per square mile each year — though the numbers dropped by about one-third between 2017 and 2018. On the east side, there are about 318 yearly complaints per square mile in the East Village, 231 on the Lower East Side, and 241 in Chinatown, according to an analysis of 311 data.

RSVP for the rat prevention training with Johnson's office at SpeakerJohnson@council.nyc.gov, calling 212-564-7757, or filling out this form. Also: see what other Health Department rat prevention trainings are coming up.