New York City launches new attack on rat problem

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Along West 107th Street in Manhattan, you don't have to go far to see the evidence of a city-wide problem: rats.

Except on this block, there are traps everywhere, signs about rat poison, mesh wiring at the base of the trees along the sidewalk, even new rules about garbage pickup.

"We're all working to bring our garbage out in the morning instead of at night," said Upper West Side building owner Oscar Milian.

Now the mayor has also approved a new 'Rat Squad', with more than $600,000 in funding to target rat reservoirs in Manhattan and the South Bronx.

The Health Department will hire 9 new inspectors to help residents locate where the rats reproduce the most.

"They live in underground burrows. You see the holes in the tree pits. That's where the rats are living," said City Counciman Mark Levine.

There's no doubt people in this neighborhood uptown are 'rat'-tled by the problem as summer arrives. Cesar Loyala won't wear open shoes.

"I'm always like paranoid that the rat is gonna run over my bare foot and that wouldn't be pleasant at all," said Loyala.

"When you see them, they're just kind of congregating in the corner somewhere and you know, most rats when you scare them they just kind of jump and run away. These don't do that," said Upper West Side resident Alexandra Minaya.

Don't believe her? Well, the city happened to be re-paving one block recently, and near the sewer they paved right over one of the..locals.

And so, the goal of the Rat Squad is to stop the problem, at its root.

"When was the last time you saw one near your church?", we asked Upper West Side resident Regina Pasos. "Sunday, I guess," she laughed.

Suffice it to say, they'll welcome all the help they can get.