For most of its existence, New York has been at war with the rats that populate the city’s alleyways and buildings. Now the city is stepping up efforts to control the pests, trying to reduce their food supply and habitat instead of simply applying poison after receiving a complaint, according to The New York Times. Cities around the nation are watching the program to learn from its successes and failures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/nyregion/05rats.html?ref=nyregion