Toxic, neon-green rat poison on sidewalk path raises alarms in Greenpoint
The pellets have residents on edge in the pet-friendly neighborhood, with no one knowing who left them behind.
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For the past week, neighbors near 84 Sutton St. say they’ve been clearing bright green, "Fruity Pebble–shaped" rat poison pellets scattered along the sidewalks.
“I’m a dog owner and my dog likes to pick up stuff and eat it off the street, which most dogs do. If he eats that, like, it could kill him!” said Stan Manel, a local resident.
The pellets have residents on edge in the pet-friendly neighborhood, with no one knowing who left them behind.
“That’s what makes it confusing. I don’t know why someone would do that. I’m going to have to get a tighter grip on my leash now,” said Andrew Pedicino, a dog walker.
The neighborhood has also seen a spike in complaints to 311. In just three weeks, residents filed three reports about dirty conditions and four about missed trash pickups. With garbage piling up, rats have become a common sight - prompting increased use of rodent repellents.
“There’s still a lot of rats, you know? They come out at night, they go through the garbage,” said Jillian, a neighbor.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation warns that rodenticides must only be applied by licensed professionals, either in tamper-resistant bait stations or inserted deep into burrows. Neighbors say they can only hope everyone follows the rules to keep pets and people safe.
“We do whatever we can to keep them safe, but they pick things off the street all the time. It’s scary to think they can get into that so easily,” said Grace Hough, another resident.
The city Health Department tells News 12 that inspectors can order the removal of loose rodenticides.
It adds that "property and business owners should clean daily, keep all food waste in tightly sealed containers and hire a licensed pest professional if signs of rat activity appear on their property."
In addition, they "invite all New Yorkers to attend its free Rat Academy to learn more and encourages residents to visit their website for tips on safer rat control.
