More proof that Virginia is a frightening place: “A pet shop owner accused of illegally dumping 200 dead rats on his property in Pulaski County doesn’t have to clean up the carcasses. Retired Pulaski General District Court Judge Danny Bird said Tuesday that the carcasses on Alexander Nelson IV’s property can decompose naturally.” |AP|
A farmer named Mokhairul Islam has been crowned Bangladesh’s Rat King for 2009 after he led a team that killed a reported 83,000 rats in a month. For his efforts, Islam was awarded a color television. Maybe Bloomberg can fly this guy and his team in and turn them loose on the 23rd street F train station in exchange for a few iPods? |BBC|
And you thought NYC rats were big and nasty? Apparently you’ve never been to the remote area in New Guinea where this new species of rodent was discovered: “Weighing nearly 3.5 pounds, and measuring 32 inches from nose to tail, the Bosavi woolly rat is one of the biggest rats in the world.” |ScienceDaily|
It’s been said (By me!) that at the heart of every urban tragedy blame can ultimately be laid on rodents. True to form, it appears as though rats may be actually aiding the spread of wildfires which will probably burn down all of Los Angeles. How so? Well, here’s how it goes: a rat’s fur catches fire and then it frantically scurries away, effectively spreading the blaze to other dry areas, an action which serves to accelerate the spread of the fires. So how are firefighters in the LA area combating this? Oh, this one is great…
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New York City rats aren’t riddled with disease as badly as some places. The Department of Health offers this bit of consolation, saying local rodents don’t offer humans as much in the way of “viruses, bacteria and other dangerous organisms.” |Brooklyn Eagle|
In an effort to educate tenants and landowners about measures that can greatly help control rat populations, the city launched a new website. The Rat Information Portal (RIP) provides all sorts of fun and interesting facts about New Yorkers’ most hated vermin. For instance, did you know that the city is plagued by only one species of rat? Despite all their different colors and sizes, it’s the Norway rat that wreaks havoc in all five boroughs. There’s also charts, illustrations, and maps that encourage residents to report rat problems with the click of a mouse.
From an official state report (PDF doc) sanctioned by the witch hunter blessed Governor of Alaska:
“Rats are highly effective as invaders: They are secretive, intelligent, and reproduce at very high rates. They are also ravenous predators that eat the young, eggs, and sometimes adults of birds and other small animals. Well known as carriers of serious diseases in humans, rats are also responsible for diseases that can adversely affect wildlife and, potentially consumers of those wilflife species.”
Go ahead and change out the word “rats” and marvel at how relevant it is to define other people and topics too.
Even with garbage shoots on every floor, recycle bins of every kind in the basement, and an army of bike riding maintenance men, a concerned resident posted up this sign in one of the Peter Cooper projects that borders on the 23rd St. border. Ya really can’t blame these new brick dwellers. With 2BR’s rents hitting upwards of $4500 in the slightly upscale Stuy Town-like complex for new move-ins and knowing full well that old timers are paying $1376 for the same, makes it especially rough to see vermin running around your luxurious back door entrance.
With news that NYC officials are too slow at taking care of the rat situation maybe they should go back to some good old fashion PSA’s like this sticker campaign in Bushwick. We’re sure this must have had a profound effect in that neighborhood, no rats there!
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