Rat Attack: NYC Seeks Hands-On Leader in Anti-Rodent Fight



Hate rats? Are you a “somewhat bloodthirsty” New Yorker with excellent communications skills? Then you might have what it takes to be the city’s new rat czar. Mayor Eric Adams posted a job listing this week seeking someone to lead the city’s long-running battle against rats. The official job title is Director of Rodent Mitigation. The salary range is $120,000 to $170,000 annually. According to the listing, the ideal candidate is someone who’s highly motivated, “somewhat bloodthirsty," and determined to look at all the solutions. While the posting is whimsical, the job is daunting. New York City leaders have been trying to control the rodent population for generations, with mixed results. Sightings of rats in parks and on sidewalks have recently increased. City rats have survived a multimillion-dollar effort under former Mayor Bill de Blasio that focused on more trash pickups and better housing inspections in targeted neighborhoods. The city also launched a program to use dry ice to suffocate rats in their hiding spots. Now the Adams administration is looking for a top rat bureaucrat to become the public face of the city’s eradication and education efforts. While the city’s rats are legendary for their survival skills, apparently they don’t run the city.