By Tori Sullivan

I recently took part in a “Rat Walk with the New York City Rat Czar.” Yes, you read that right.  

Through IMG New York’s membership in the Association for a Better New York, I had the opportunity to sign up for an educational session led by Kathleen Corradi, NYC’s official Rat Czar. You might remember the media buzz when Corradi’s role was announced, and I’ll admit this only fed the curiosity around her job description and provoked my desire to take part in the walk. 

During the hour we spent walking around a bustling Columbus Park in Chinatown, we listened to Corradi discuss her background and her strategic priorities as Rat Czar, all the while keeping our eyes peeled for vermin sightings.  

During the session, Corradi explained the biology and intelligence of rats, which complicates her goals of cutting off their food sources and improving sanitation and infrastructure. Corradi answered questions like, “Why not just set more traps?” and “Why doesn’t the city just pick up more trash?” Her responses helped us to understand that human behavior, such as littering or improperly using trash receptacles, can often undermine efforts to control rats, despite costly initiatives. 

As a communicator, I was struck by how Corradi and her team use creative, engaging strategies to educate the public and spread their message. Here are a few ways their approach supported their broader mission of educating New Yorkers on how to keep rats under control.  

Tailoring the Message 

Corradi came prepared, tailoring her presentation to our group’s lack of knowledge around the topic of rats. She shared compelling facts, addressed common misconceptions, and told us about her participation in national pest control conferences. I particularly appreciated Corradi making complex information accessible, like explaining the connection between construction and rat habitats and what the city is doing to address it. 

Using Humor  

She also used humor to connect with the group, making her message memorable and relatable. Corradi described New York City as “Shangri-La” for rats because one-third of the city is considered landfill, and they live underground and burrow. I now carry with me the knowledge about a rat’s body structure and skeletal system, which lacks a clavicle, and thus allows them to fit in confined spaces, such as cracks in sidewalks, holes in walls, and pipes.    

Empowering Ambassadors 

After just one walk, Corradi effectively turned us into ambassadors for supporting her work, spreading awareness throughout our networks. Since that day, I’ve shared what I learned—like the fact that rats only need an ounce of food a day, and their reliance on their strong sense of smell —with friends and colleagues. The fun and informative session achieved one of its key objectives: leveraging participants to spread awareness of best practices for rat management.  

Stay Tuned for More Rat Pack Content  

I’ve now completed two of the three steps to join the NYC “Rat Pack,” (Corradi’s group of New Yorkers trained to become an “elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists”): the Rat Walk and a webinar coined as “Rat Academy.” One step remains, which is focused on community service that connects direct action to make “NYC a better place to live.”  

Corradi shared that to date, there are over 200 members of the Rat Pack, which translates to over 200 individuals who have invested their time in support of making New York City a healthier and better place for all. It’s at this point that I revel in my amazement by how Corradi’s communication skills inspired not only me but also hundreds of others to spend hours learning about rat behavior and to want to take action.