Taxing Long Island
News12 New York
Download the App
Where to Watch
Local
Crime
Weather
beWell
The East End
Crime Files
Stony Brook Medicine
FIFA World Cup

Bushwick's Starr Street overrun by rats

The infestation has forced some residents to take matters into their own hands.

Katelynn Ulrich

Oct 3, 2024, 7:23 AM

Updated

Share:

Top Stories

Residents of Bushwick are grappling with a rat infestation. Starr Street has become overrun with rats, leaving residents to fend for themselves.

Hunter Boone, a resident, recently found rat droppings on his kitchen counter and later tested positive for giardia, a parasite he believes his dog transmitted after exposure to rat feces.

"I got tested, and it was giardia," Boone said. "It's most likely because your dog is getting rat feces on his feet."

Boone’s experience mirrors that of many others in the neighborhood. "Oh no, they're friendly," one resident quipped. "They’ll run right up to you."

The infestation has forced some residents to take matters into their own hands. "People are just throwing rat poison out on the sidewalk," Boone added.

Residents are calling on the city for more frequent extermination efforts. "You need to come out more often," one resident urged, addressing city officials.

The city's Health Department tells us they've conducted "many" inspections on Starr within the last 90 days. A spokesperson says the last inspection was September 20th.

Top Stories

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices