Rodentology 

To the editor: 

Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement that the city intends to hire a czar to deal with the escalating rat problem left me scratching my head and remarking to myself that the more things change the more they remain the same.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has among its staff the world-renowned urban rodentologist, Dr. Robert Corrigan, who ran the Rodent Academy funded by a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The academy initially focused on training city agency personnel and was later extended to the public. Over the years, the department embarked on various strategies to deal with the rat situation, including rat indexing; a more scientific and organized approach to inspections; best practices for rodent proofing; launching and staffing the “rat reservoir” program; rat mitigation zones; and identifying and monitoring hot spots for rats.

I therefore wonder what will be the role of this rat czar? Will he be schooling Corrigan on best practices concerning rat mitigation? Will he be bringing his own staff and advising the pest control staff to unlearn all they learned from Corrigan and follow new instructions? 

Perhaps the solution isn't as difficult as one might think, and the czar may have the answer. He/She may be aware that all that is needed is to deprive the critters of food and water and the problem is solved. Easy work for a $120,000-170,000 salary.

Chester McGibbo