Stephen Dubner

I spoke with Karate shortly before the inaugural Rat Summit last fall. I asked her for a preview.

I spoke with Karate shortly before the inaugural Rat Summit last fall. I asked her for a preview.

I spoke with Karate shortly before the inaugural Rat Summit last fall. I asked her for a preview.

The day of the Rat Summit arrived. Mayor Eric Adams helped set the stage. He began by praising Kathy Karate.

The day of the Rat Summit arrived. Mayor Eric Adams helped set the stage. He began by praising Kathy Karate.

The day of the Rat Summit arrived. Mayor Eric Adams helped set the stage. He began by praising Kathy Karate.

And then the presentations got underway. Our friend Bobby Corrigan gave a talk called Remote Rat Sensor Technology, Public Health Canaries in the Coal Mine.

And then the presentations got underway. Our friend Bobby Corrigan gave a talk called Remote Rat Sensor Technology, Public Health Canaries in the Coal Mine.

And then the presentations got underway. Our friend Bobby Corrigan gave a talk called Remote Rat Sensor Technology, Public Health Canaries in the Coal Mine.

A rat researcher named Kaylee Byers gave a talk called More Than Pests, Rats as a Public and Mental Health Issue. Byers teaches at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She opened her talk by showing a global map of the rat's reach. Only a very few places are spared. Antarctica, for instance, and a big rectangle in the middle of Canada.

A rat researcher named Kaylee Byers gave a talk called More Than Pests, Rats as a Public and Mental Health Issue. Byers teaches at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She opened her talk by showing a global map of the rat's reach. Only a very few places are spared. Antarctica, for instance, and a big rectangle in the middle of Canada.

A rat researcher named Kaylee Byers gave a talk called More Than Pests, Rats as a Public and Mental Health Issue. Byers teaches at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She opened her talk by showing a global map of the rat's reach. Only a very few places are spared. Antarctica, for instance, and a big rectangle in the middle of Canada.

And here's a person responsible for keeping Alberta rat-free.

And here's a person responsible for keeping Alberta rat-free.

And here's a person responsible for keeping Alberta rat-free.

Wickerson was not able to make the rat summit, although she did visit New York not long after. We spoke with her in a studio.

Wickerson was not able to make the rat summit, although she did visit New York not long after. We spoke with her in a studio.

Wickerson was not able to make the rat summit, although she did visit New York not long after. We spoke with her in a studio.

Alberta is just over 250,000 square miles. That's roughly the same size as Texas, where there are many rats. But Alberta says it does not have a single breeding population of rats. Karen Wickerson gives some credit to the public.

Alberta is just over 250,000 square miles. That's roughly the same size as Texas, where there are many rats. But Alberta says it does not have a single breeding population of rats. Karen Wickerson gives some credit to the public.