"Minty Fresh" Solution To New York City Rat Problem?

Could mint-scented trash bags be a secret weapon in the fight against New York City's creepy rodent problem? This solution seems entirely too easy, but hey, where rats are concerned, the city needs all the help it can get.

I saw this Mint-X truck making a delivery to an office building in Downtown Office and checked their web site to find out more. Mint-X claims that their trash bags "smell great to humans and terrible to rats." They also claim that they are "100% safe effective after 7 days of continued use." Plus they are apparently EPA approved.

As everyone knows, New York City is crawling with rats. The creepy rodents are simply everywhere. And the problem seems to have gotten worse. Here in Carroll Gardens, we have not been spared. Take a walk down Smith Street or Court Street at dawn, and you will see rats dart from one side of the street to the other, from one heap of trash bags left outside by restaurants to the other. Since the Mint-X bags are meant to be used by themselves, without a trash bin, they sound ideal for New York City's eateries.

So, dear reader, what do you think? Is this an elegant solution to our dirty little rat problem or is the claim too good to be true?

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They Are Back!!!! Rats Invade Carroll Park... Again!

photo credit: Suzanne DeChillo/ The New York Times
on "The First (And Hopefully Last) rat Festival" In Carroll Park 2005

You know you have an infestation, when you see rats running around in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Carroll Park right now. The Park workers are reporting that rodents have been sighted not only in the flowerbeds and in the open areas, but droppings were also found in the park house. This is not the first time that our park has been over-run by rats.

Back in the summer and fall of 2005, the Committee To Improve Carroll Park, of which I am a member, notified the Parks Department that we had a real rodent problem.

Though the department tried hard to bait and get the problem under control, it was apparent to the Committee, that an inter-departmental effort was needed. (After all, the subway runs under the Smith Street side of the park) However, trying to get the other agencies, like the Sanitation Department and the MTA, to co-operate was hard.
In an effort to draw attention to the problem, the C.I.C.P. organized a "First (and hopefully last) Rat Festival" on the same day other parks around the city were hosting their official "It's My Park Day!" The event included relay rat races, the adopt-a rat program, eatable gummy rats were handed out as prizes and a giant inflatable rat, generously lent by a labor union, stood guard in front of the Park House.)

On First (And Hopefully Last) Rat Festival day, Carroll Park 2005

That got results! The event's press coverage got the city administration's attention and the necessary help to combat the rats. The problem seemed under control, until now that is..

C.I.C.P. is determined to attack the problem head-on and not to wait till it 'multiplies.' The committee is reaching out to the Park's Department, will hang up fliers informing the general public, as well as encouraging people to clean up after themselves and asking them to refrain from feeding birds and squirrels.

But we all need to help!

***If you have seen rats in other parts of the neighborhood, please leave a comment. It will help the city to bait more efficiently.***

Related Reading:
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/i-new-york/862/trash-talk

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