Recently, Irvington and the surrounding city have seen an increase in animal activity, with rising trends of health and sanitation concerns among educators and officials. Over the past three months, stray cats, rats, and fleas have circulated through Irvington and other FUSD campuses, sparking widespread discussion and prompting responses from staff, city workers, and animal control officials.
On August 21, 2025, a rat was spotted in Ms. Hudson’s classroom at the beginning of second period. Noted to have walked in from outside the classroom with the student foot traffic, students noticed and recorded the rat. The rat was chased out by Ms. Hudson back into the horseshoe, where it continued to reside for a little while longer. She stated that the creature had “jumped onto various shelves and desks while it proceeded to run across the floor of her class,” which was later all “thoroughly disinfected by the custodian.” Rats have been sighted in other schools in the FUSD district as well, with the latest one being sighted in another campus during the week of October 27th. The process of getting rid of the rats is explained by the school’s grounds and maintenance person, Mr. Schneider. He says that his crew set traps, monitor them daily, and continue trapping for about a week or two, until no more rodents are caught. He adds that the team responds quickly, placing traps the “same day an issue is reported,” ensuring the problem is solved efficiently. This rat was just the first of the many animal sightings that followed in the school year.
Stray cats are another frequent presence, particularly in the mornings, at Irvington’s history wing and canal-adjacent areas. Teachers report that these cats are suspected carriers of fleas, which have become a persistent problem inside and outside the classrooms. Educators like Mrs. Buehler, Mr. Vucurevich (Mr. V), and Mr. Einfeldt have all spotted fleas around the history wing, with Mrs. Buehler getting bitten on her face a month ago…