Stephen Dubner

And how do you like that title, the Rat Czar?

And how do you like that title, the Rat Czar?

New York and many other cities have seen a rise in their rat populations, especially during COVID. And now they are fighting back. But is wholesale slaughter really the way to go? That is one of the many rat questions that I am eager to answer over the next few episodes. The brown rat, also known as Rattus norvegicus, is one of the most reviled animals in the world.

New York and many other cities have seen a rise in their rat populations, especially during COVID. And now they are fighting back. But is wholesale slaughter really the way to go? That is one of the many rat questions that I am eager to answer over the next few episodes. The brown rat, also known as Rattus norvegicus, is one of the most reviled animals in the world.

New York and many other cities have seen a rise in their rat populations, especially during COVID. And now they are fighting back. But is wholesale slaughter really the way to go? That is one of the many rat questions that I am eager to answer over the next few episodes. The brown rat, also known as Rattus norvegicus, is one of the most reviled animals in the world.

We will hear the details of New York's rat mitigation plan.

We will hear the details of New York's rat mitigation plan.

We will hear the details of New York's rat mitigation plan.

I'm going to take that as a yes. Our three-part series on rats begins now.

I'm going to take that as a yes. Our three-part series on rats begins now.

I'm going to take that as a yes. Our three-part series on rats begins now.

I understand that your relationship with rats goes back pretty far to when you were a kid growing up in New York. I understand that you circulated a petition in your neighborhood to get rid of some rats. Is that true?

I understand that your relationship with rats goes back pretty far to when you were a kid growing up in New York. I understand that you circulated a petition in your neighborhood to get rid of some rats. Is that true?

I understand that your relationship with rats goes back pretty far to when you were a kid growing up in New York. I understand that you circulated a petition in your neighborhood to get rid of some rats. Is that true?

Karate wound up getting an undergraduate degree in biology and a master's in urban sustainability. She taught elementary school for a while, and then she took a job in New York City's Department of Education in their sustainability office.

Karate wound up getting an undergraduate degree in biology and a master's in urban sustainability. She taught elementary school for a while, and then she took a job in New York City's Department of Education in their sustainability office.

Karate wound up getting an undergraduate degree in biology and a master's in urban sustainability. She taught elementary school for a while, and then she took a job in New York City's Department of Education in their sustainability office.

Most people, when they think about sanitation, generally do not think of New York City. There are many things to love about this place, many things worth admiring, but let's be honest, it is not a particularly clean city. Trash on the sidewalks is a thing, especially food wrappers and big bags of restaurant trash. For a population of rats, all that food waste represents something like paradise.

Most people, when they think about sanitation, generally do not think of New York City. There are many things to love about this place, many things worth admiring, but let's be honest, it is not a particularly clean city. Trash on the sidewalks is a thing, especially food wrappers and big bags of restaurant trash. For a population of rats, all that food waste represents something like paradise.

Most people, when they think about sanitation, generally do not think of New York City. There are many things to love about this place, many things worth admiring, but let's be honest, it is not a particularly clean city. Trash on the sidewalks is a thing, especially food wrappers and big bags of restaurant trash. For a population of rats, all that food waste represents something like paradise.