New York City's rat population is booming due to their rapid reproduction rate. To combat this, the New York City Council is set to introduce birth control pills to curb the city's millions of rodents.
Rats thrive in human habitats and have spread across every continent except Antarctica. Unfortunately, they carry diseases, and most traditional control measures are ineffective, harmful to the environment, and pose a threat to other animals. In response, the City Council has approved a revolutionary strategy: providing birth control pills for rats. This initiative follows a serious rat infestation in the country's most populous city. The new method, called ContraPest, reportedly has the potential to decrease the rat population by up to 95% over time. Additionally, this approach is more humane and environmentally friendly than using poisons or traps.
Sterility Lasts for 45 Days
The birth control, offered as a sweet liquid, will be placed in special traps throughout New York City starting in early 2025. When rats consume this liquid, which contains triptolide, it prevents them from reproducing. Female rats experience a form of "menopause," while male rats see a drop in sperm production. SenesTech, the biotech company producing this plant-based pill, states that a single dose can make rats sterile for 45 days. A key benefit of this method is its non-toxic nature, ensuring it does not endanger other animals or harm the environment like conventional rat poisons.
SenesTech's ContraPest as a Rat Solution
Traditional rodenticides and traps have proven insufficient, as rats have developed resistance to many poisons and have learned to avoid baits and traps that can harm them. “We can't poison our way out of this problem. We need a solution that is both effective and environmentally friendly,” said Councilman Shaun Abreu, who introduced the bill earlier this year.
The Biggest Challenge Yet
The main obstacle has been producing the substance triptolide, which was previously only obtainable from a rare Chinese plant. However, in 2023, researchers from the University of Copenhagen discovered a method to produce triptolide using common yeast in laboratories.
This advancement could position New York as a leader in rat control. If successful, rat sightings on city streets could become a rarity.