NY subway rats get photo contest

Jan 10, 2012 |

New York

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Rats scurrying through New York's subway system better clean their sharp teeth: they're in a beauty contest!

Fed-up subway workers trying to draw attention to what they say is an infestation have offered a free monthly transport pass to whoever snaps the best picture of one of the furry menaces.

Pictures can be sent to ratfreesubways.com where they will appear on the Rate My Rat section.

The site currently shows six entries, as well as videos of the infamously determined and hardy subterranean residents making off with pizza and other food dumped by untidy passengers.

"Rats are proliferating in the New York City subways," said the Transport Workers Union, which represents subway workers. "Aggressive rats are bolder about coming onto the platforms, and have even been known to bite riders. They infest the refuse rooms where garbage is stored."

The Metropolitan Transport Authority has declared rat war in 20 stations, but that is less than four percent of the total and "it's not enough. More must be done!" the TWU said on the site.

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