New York considers sterilizing rats to combat rodent population

Officials plan to use ContraPest, an EPA-approved contraceptive for rats.

New York City is considering giving birth control pills to rats to control their population in the city.according to New York Times, the city came up with the idea after an escaped zoo owl known as Flaco died from rat poison. City Councilman Sean Abreu, chairman of the Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee, introduced a new bill Thursday that would deal with the millions lurking in subway stations and vacant lots by using birth control instead of the deadly chemicals used in glue. A mouse. Traps and rat poison can cause a slow death.

City officials say no trap or bait is completely successful in reducing rat populations. Authorities had previously tried to provide contraceptives to the rodents, but the rats were successful. Now, the city council wants to try again, citing progress in rodent sterilization and waste storage, the outlet reports.

The new bill would require the city’s health department to distribute salty pellets to sterilize male and female rats as part of a pilot program. Officials will cover two communities within the “rat mitigation” zone and cover at least 10 city blocks. Mr Abreu introduced the bill and said the attempt would be more effective.

“We think we need to take a shocking approach to the rat problem and put everything we have into solving this problem,” he said. era. “Raptors should not eat rats containing rodenticide,” he added.

according to fox news, the rat contraceptive pill will prevent ovulation in female rats and disrupt sperm maturation in male rats. The granules are derived from an extract that has been used for decades to treat rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Experts say the salty pellets should be so tasty to rats that they won’t look elsewhere for food.

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Officials plan to use ContraPest, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved contraceptive for rats. Dr. Loretta Meyer, the scientist who invented the contraceptive, said the pills are rich in fat and salt and so tasty that rats prefer them to digging in the trash. “This is better than pizza,” she said.

Experts say the formula poses no danger to other animals or humans because it is specifically designed for rats. It’s both user-friendly and effective. “The solution is to feed them, not bait. But when you feed them, you stop them from reproducing,” Dr. Meier explained.