Mayor Adams Launches new Teams to Fight rats in City's new Phase of 'War on Rats'

June 22, 2025

Video available at: https://youtu.be/46YDd8FbGsE

Adams Administration Invests $877,000 for New Rat Mitigation Teams Across  Five Boroughs That Will Tackle Rat Populations in 600,000 Street Tree Beds Citywide 

Program Will Directly Address Over 2,300 Rat-Related 311 Complaints Annually Through Inspection and Non-Pesticide Rat Control Methods 

New Teams Will Tackle One of Most Visible Parts of New York City That Millions of New Yorkers Walk Past Every Day 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Director of Rodent Mitigation Kathy Corradi, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa today announced the creation of new, specialized teams to tackle New York City’s rat population in 600,000 of the city’s street tree beds. The Adams administration has baselined $877,000 in permanent funding to establish the teams and hire 12 new full-time staff to provide inspections and associated services, under the guidance of exterminators and a forester. Currently, street tree beds — some of the most visible parts of New York City that millions of people pass by every day — have no dedicated mitigation or enforcement teams. With the establishment of these teams, that ends today and continues the Adams administration’s “War on Rats.” 

“Today, we are embarking on a new era of urban pest management. Our administration is announcing a $877,000 investment to get rats out of 600,000 street tree beds across the five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams. “By cleaning up trash and hiring a team of experts to clear out burrows while caring for our trees, we are reclaiming public space, fighting rats, and improving quality of life for all New Yorkers. Our administration continues to build on the work we are doing to end the dominance of trash and rats on our streets.”  


“Rats have historically exploited street tree beds as they sit at the cross section of the private and public realm and are adjacent to food sources and travel pathways,” said Director of Rodent Mitigation Corradi. “Along with the tremendous efforts to clean our curbs and educate property owners, the Street Tree Bed Rat Mitigation program deepens the Adams administration’s commitment to creating a cleaner and pest-free New York City.”  

“New Yorkers love their tree-lined streets, and it's our job to ensure that these vital green spaces remain healthy, clean, and safe,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa. “For too long, rats in street tree beds have gone unaddressed — undermining the hard work of both city agencies and local communities. With this new investment, we're closing that gap. By combining science-based, non-toxic approaches with dedicated staff, we’re protecting our trees, our neighborhoods, and our quality of life.” 

In line with the Adams administration’s work to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers, these new teams will work alongside property owners in making New York City clean and pest-free. Last year, street tree beds garnered over 2,300 rat-related 311 complaints annually. Until now, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has responded to complaints of rodents in street tree beds. These new specialized teams will directly address those complaints and build on the city’s existing rat mitigation work. 

Today’s announcement is a continuation of the interagency initiatives established by the Adams administration to enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Over the past six months, 311 complaints of rodent sightings have decreased. More than 1,000 New Yorkers are participating in New York City Rat Pack education and engagement events and the recent installation of approximately 1,100 “Empire Bins” has also aided in fewer rats, cleaner sidewalks, and clearer corners.  

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