Rat Academy Arms New Yorkers With The Information Needed To Fight A Rodent Invasion

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- City officials want to educate New Yorkers about how to deal with rats.

It's information that could help residents fight the city's rat invasion.

Early every morning Allan is out in his SoHo neighborhood and sees first hand the city's rat problem.

"I'm interested in doing all that I can in my neighborhood to try to keep things in order so that it doesn't become overwhelming," he told 1010 WINS reporter Al Jones.

Allan was at the Rat Academy hosted by the office of City Councilman Corey Johnson (D-3rd).

"Where are they coming from, what will we be able to do to prevent them from coming into the building," a building," a building super from the Lower East Side said.

Rat expert Caroline Bragden with the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said there is one key to prevention.

"Always keep garbage in a sealed container with a lid," she said.

According to Johnson's office, the event returned due to popular demand, after a positive response in 2015.

Folks left the academy not with a diploma, but with information and a rat proof garbage can.