New York City, the glamorous backdrop for rom-coms and making dreams come true, can no longer hide its underground claim to fame – the thousands of scurrying, whiskered residents who call it home.
That's right, we're talking about rats.
NYC's notorious rat saga has taken an unexpected turn as tourists add "rat-watching" to their list of must-see attractions, with Kenny Bollwerk, the “rat guy,” leading the charge.
Bollwerk, who never imagined he'd be New York’s self-appointed Pied Piper, came to the city in 2019. Setting his sights (and his camera) on a construction site in Queens, the accidental trendsetter posted a TikTok reel that got over 10,000 views.
Touring around and filming rats three to five times a week, he transformed a quirky fascination into a movement, shedding light on New York's rat boroughs.
Upwards of 2,000 people tune into his 'RatTok' streams.
Dubbed "the rat guy" on TikTok, Bollwerk expressed his astonishment in an interview with Nil Köksal of As It Happens, sharing, "They've seen the Empire State Building already. They've seen Central Park already. They want to see something different."
Being the responsible influencer he is, Bollwerk dialled up the city’s pest control to give them the lowdown when he first came upon his rodent moment.
The City proactively responded, introducing specialized "rat mitigation zones" with advanced detection technologies to manage and reduce the rat population. The mission? Seek and evict.
And NYC is laying down laws, too. Businesses that keep the rat party going face fines that will make their wallets squeak. Residents aren't off the hook either. Leaving food waste on the streets? That's a no-no. If you're not part of the solution, you'll be ratted out.
With sightings becoming the new trend, NYC's Mayor, Eric Adams, not one to be left behind in this rat race, introduced Kathleen Corradi as the city's rat czar. And her magic seems to be working, with rat sightings dipping by 20% in JUN 2023 compared to the previous year.
“New Yorkers may not know this about me — but I hate rats,” said Mayor Adams. “It’s still early, but these numbers show what we’re doing is working and that we are moving in the right direction."
Bollwerk told the CBC that since he moved to New York in 2019, he has been "taken aback by its robust rat population," sometimes seeing "upwards of 100 in a single spot."
While Bollwerk is now the unofficial 'Rat King' of NYC, he still jumps out of his skin when one decides to run at him. It's like a superhero being afraid of his own power!
For those visiting NYC, the traditional attractions remain. But for those seeking a unique experience, Bollwerk's tours offer a distinct, if unexpected, perspective on urban wildlife.
