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Topics: Environment, US News, New York, Animals
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Environment, US News, New York, Animals
New York City is employing an interesting new way to control its growing rat population.
There's an estimated three million rodents in the area - almost a third of NYC's human population.
The number of rats is thought to have doubled since 2010. That's enough to make your skin crawl.
The City Council has made a number of attempts to tackle the issue.
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These include appointing a dedicated 'rat czar', putting out rat poison, and trash containerization.
But now, rats will be given birth control in a bid to slow down their speedy levels of reproduction.
Councilman Shaun Abreu introduced the bill, dubbed Flaco's Law, back in April.
He said, as per the New York Times: "I’m not saying rat contraceptives are going to be a magic wand, but we should see if they work.”
The bill will see a 'sweet' compound used to attract rats. It will target ovarian function in female rats and sperm production in males.
“Over time, this would help make sure that rats can’t reproduce,” Abreu explained.
He reiterated the substance would not be harmful to other animals - hence being called Flaco's law, named after the Central Park owl that died with rat poison in his system.
The Eurasian eagle owl died on February 23, 2024 after crashing into a building on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
An autopsy determined Flaco had been exposed to four different rodenticides that are regularly used in New York City.
A memorial was set up in North Woods in Central Park where Flaco was known to visit in the early months after his escape from the Central Park Zoo in February 2023.
Abreu admitted putting out rat poison 'doesn’t get us far,' adding: “When two rats can reproduce 15,000 descendants in a year, you can’t kill your way out of this..."
Abreu said: “We saw what happened to Flaco... We know there is a better way [to reduce the rat population.]"
Responding to the rat birth control news on X, formerly Twitter, one person said: "2024 is not a real year" as a second commented: "Rats getting better healthcare than actual women across the world was NOT in my 2024 bingo card."
Another curious person asked: "How they gonna get the rats to take their pills on schedule?"
A fourth said of the rats: "let them take the city."