NEW YORK (PIX11) — The New York City Council voted Thursday to use birth control on rats.
According to the bill, a local rat contraceptive pilot program will begin in a small section of the city 180 days after the bill is passed.
“For no less than 12 months immediately after the deployment of the rat contraceptive, the department shall perform monthly inspections of each pilot program area and each pilot program comparison area,” read the newly passed bill. “During such monthly inspections of the pilot program areas, the department shall track the amount of rat contraceptive in each rat contraceptive dispenser.”
The pilot program is inspired by New York City’s beloved Flaco the owl, who died earlier this year with rat poison in his system.
New York City Council member Shaun Abreu, the bill’s sponsor, said he has worked with ContraPest, a type of birth control, to find a less harmful way to reduce the New York City rat population. Abreu also noted that other steps, such as having New Yorkers put trash in containers, will make the contraceptive more effective.
ContraPest has been utilized by the city in the past, but it was not practical, according to a veterinarian with over 12 years of experience who spoke to PIX11 News.
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