Group Offers to Help Organize Humane Program Instead

For Immediate Release:
March 21, 2007

Contact:
Stephanie Boyles 757-622-7382

New Orleans, La. -- Today, after learning that New Orleans plans to poison rats living in the city as part of its "Rat Busters" program, PETA fired off a letter to Mayor Ray Nagin urging him to work with PETA to develop a humane, effective program to permanently reduce the rat population instead.

PETA points out that poisoning rats is not only cruel but also ineffective. Rats from surrounding areas will simply move in to fill the void left by those who were killed, and as long as habitats such as abandoned buildings and food sources such as garbage are accessible, rats will thrive.

PETA also points out that rat-control expert Dr. Bruce Colvin had success in reducing Boston’s rat population by studying rats’ habitat preferences and breeding patterns. PETA offers to work with New Orleans officials to implement a similar program. Possible steps the city could take include the following:

· Bring together city officials, scientists, and community activists to develop a plan of action for the city.

· Create a "Rat Coalition" with the city’s hotel and restaurant associations in which all participants agree to keep the area rodent-proofed.

· Impose fines on hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings for improper sanitation.

"Mayor Nagin needs to control rat populations with effective, humane means—instead of by cruelly poisoning them," says PETA wildlife biologist Stephanie Boyles. "New Orleans is a city that can overcome any adversity—even a ‘rat problem’—with creativity and heart."

PETA’s letter to Mayor Nagin follows.

March 21, 2007

The Honorable C. Ray Nagan
Mayor of New Orleans
New Orleans City Hall
1300 Perdido St., Rm. 2E04
New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Mayor Nagan:

PETA is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.6 million members and supporters. We have recently learned that New Orleans is planning to poison rats living in the city as part of its "Rat Busters" program.

Not only is poisoning rats cruel, it also won’t solve New Orleans’ rat infestation. More rats from surrounding areas will simply move in to fill the void left by those who were killed. As long as garbage is plentiful and habitats like abandoned buildings are attractive and accessible, rats will continue to thrive in New Orleans.

Rat-control experts like Dr. Bruce Colvin have repeatedly demonstrated that large-scale abatement programs do nothing to address the long-term problems associated with rat populations in urban areas. By studying rat habitat preferences and breeding patterns, Dr. Colvin was able to develop a strategic plan that successfully reduced the rat population in the city of Boston. After implementing Dr. Colvin’s action plan, administrators in Boston reported a 95 percent decline in the amount of poison used and a significant reduction in the number of rats trapped—as well as a reduction in the number of rodent sightings at construction sites.

PETA would be happy to offer New Orleans our assistance in developing an effective, humane program to reduce the rat population permanently. Possible steps include the following:

· Organize a "Rat Summit" to bring together city officials, scientists like Dr. Colvin, and community activists to develop a plan of action.

· Create a "Rat Coalition" with the city’s hotel and restaurant associations.

· Impose fines on hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings for improper sanitation.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please let us know how we can help. I can be reached at 757-622-7382.

Very truly yours,

Stephanie Boyles, M.S., Wildlife Biologist
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department