Oh rats! Rodent complaints mount in greater Riverdale

Residents in North Riverdale say rats have taken over garbage collection areas, becoming such a persistent presence on certain strips that some pedestrians are avoiding the sidewalks altogether, with others noting the rodents are burrowing into the neighborhood’s rocky terrain.

The growing concerns, particularly around Fieldston Road and Mosholu Avenue, have prompted repeated 311 complaints and drawn the attention of Bronx Community Board 8 and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. An analysis by The Riverdale Press of city 311 records found that rodent-related complaints across Community Board 8’s district increased approximately 20% during the first 10 months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

Kathy Estrella, owner of Bongo Nail Lounge at 5806 Mosholu Ave. and a Fieldston Road resident, said she has become so accustomed to encountering rats along her walk home she now takes precautions.

“I walk in the middle of the road rather than taking the sidewalk because, like, you never know when they come up,” Estrella said, noting concerns about traveling on foot on active roadways, particularly after dark.

Estrella believes a large rock formation along Fieldston Road has become a haven for rodents, a sentiment other residents echoed. She said rats appear to emerge from openings in the rocks before making their way toward nearby buildings in search of food.

“I call that rock their castle,” she said. “That’s their house.”

Although nearby buildings have installed garbage bins and appeared to conduct pest control work, Estrella said the problem has persisted.

At a September meeting of Bronx Community Board 8’s Environment and Sanitation Committee, residents spoke about rats surrounding garbage collection areas and making it difficult to dispose of household trash.

Residents described avoiding taking out their trash to evade rodents, recalling past unpleasant encounters like rats jumping out of garbage bins as tenants attempted to dispose of their waste.

Daniel Rowen, chair of the committee, said complaints from residents around Tyndall Avenue and Fieldston Road prompted the board to invite a health department representative to discuss the problem.

Rowen suspected improper garbage disposal, particularly around larger apartment buildings and commercial establishments, may be contributing to the infestation.

During the committee meeting, Samantha Alvarez, a health department community liaison, said the agency was investigating complaints at two Fieldston Road apartment buildings and had requested that one case be expedited.

Alvarez also confirmed that a property on nearby Mosholu Avenue failed an Aug. 20 inspection because of conditions conducive to rodents. The department issued a violation, although inspectors found no evidence of active rodent activity at the time.

She explained that property owners are notified when violations are identified, with subsequent inspections determining whether corrective measures have been taken.

The problem also extends to other parts of greater Riverdale, with Patricia Clark, a Valles Avenue resident, telling the committee that neighbors in her area had reported rats, including dead rodents, around their homes.

Rowen emphasized containerization as a strategy to reduce rodents’ access to food, something city sanitation officials have been working to address.

Under the New York City Department of Sanitation’s ongoing rollout, residential buildings with one to nine units must use official NYC Bins for trash collection, while new containerization requirements for larger buildings are being implemented in designated pilot districts.

Rowen questioned whether some apartment buildings are adequately securing their garbage, particularly when trash contains food waste. He also raised concerns about commercial establishments that rely on private waste collection companies.

Alvarez said extermination efforts alone may not resolve the problem.

“If you don’t eliminate the food source, like containerizing garbage, the rats are not even going to be attracted to anything in the baits,” she said.

The health department can coordinate with the department of sanitation on extensive cases involving multiple violations, Alvarez said, while the city’s parks department handles rodent complaints involving street tree beds.

Rowen urged residents to continue filing complaints and retaining their service request numbers so the community board can follow up with city agencies.

“Report it to 311 every single time you see a rat,” he said, adding that repeated complaints help officials identify areas requiring attention.