New York

New York City has come up with a new way to manage its rat problem—using birth control. Under a plan approved by the city's council, special traps with contraceptive pellets will be placed in rat-accessible areas. These pellets are designed to reduce the fertility of rats, helping to slow down their population growth. Starting next year, the city will implement this strategy to address the rat issue.

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How the pill works

The birth control product called Contrapest was developed by Senestech. It induces a form of menopause in females and reduces sperm production in males. Over time, repeated use can reduce the number of rats by up to 95%, according to the company. Unlike other methods, this one doesn’t harm the environment or other animals.

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Monitoring the traps

The containers will be checked every month to see how much of the pellets are being eaten by the rats. This will help them understand how well the plan is working and make adjustments if needed.

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New York’s rat problem

New York City is known for having a big rat problem, with an estimated 3 million rats living in the city, according to pest control firm MMPC. The figure is based on a widely-quoted 2014 study by Jonathan Auerbach and his methodology.

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Despite many efforts to control the rats, they remain a common sight, even becoming a social media sensation. Last year, the city appointed its first-ever "rat czar" to help lead the fight against the rodents.

One famous moment in the city’s history was the "pizza rat" video, where a rat was seen dragging a slice of pizza down subway steps, showing just how deeply these creatures are woven into the fabric of New York City.

(With inputs from agencies)