but is considering renaming it Malina Island after his granddaughter. In summer months, a couple dozen people may come to the island. In the past, during summer the Parks Department used to put waste drums so they may contain their garbage. Sometimes, the local first responders use it to practice rescue missions with boats and helicopters. In August 2016, a polyester copy of the statue of the Swiss freedom fighter William Tell was erected on the island for the 725th Swiss National Day. The original is located in Altdorf, Uri, Switzerland. In March 2017, Schibli was sued unsuccessfully in a People's Court episode for fees charged by an engineer whom he asked to give an estimate on what was needed to put a more permanent statue of William Tell on the island. Name It is not known how the island received its name. It has been proposed by Red Brennan and others including former prison workers that prisoners escaping from Hart Island nearby, nicknamed "rats", used the small island to rest before swimming on to City Island and freedom. Another theory is that when the island housed typhoid victims in the 19th century it presumably attracted vermin. According to Schibli, the island's original name was "Rattle Island," because rattling noisemakers were used to ward off ships. References Further reading Rat Island p. 551, New York City Guide, Federal Writers' Project, 1939. External links Nautical Chart of Rat Island Islands of New York City Long Island Sound Islands of the Bronx Private islands of New York (state)