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By Alejandra Jiménez

A new bill introduced last Thursday could require the city’s health department to deploy salt-based sterilizing pellets in two neighborhoods as part of a pilot program. These pellets would target both male and female rats and would be used in so-called rat mitigation zones, covering at least 10 city blocks.

Shaun Abreu, a council member from Upper Manhattan and sponsor of the bill, predicts that this effort will be more successful than previous attempts, especially when combined with broader rat-control measures, such as using garbage bins and expanding composting programs.

One key benefit is that contraceptives are less likely to harm wildlife, unlike traditional poisons. This was seen in the case of Flaco, the beloved Eurasian owl whose death was partially blamed on rat poison.

City officials have adopted a comprehensive approach to combating rats. Loretta Mayer, the scientist behind ContraPest, a rat contraceptive, reports promising results from its use in the subway system. The bait contains active ingredients that impair ovarian function in female rats and disrupt sperm production in males.

Animal rights groups have also voiced support for the bill, arguing that contraceptives provide a more humane solution to rodent control, while also protecting animals higher up the food chain.