City Rats Are Going on Birth Control
Contraceptives are kinder than poison.
Washington, D.C. is combating its rat problem with a new approach: rat birth control. City officials are testing a contraceptive called ContraPest in plastic bait stations placed throughout the city. So far, studies indicate that continuous baiting with ContraPest can lead to a 94 percent reduction in rat activity. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness and safety of ContraPest, as most research has been conducted by the manufacturer, SenesTech.
D.C. is implementing a multi-pronged strategy, including direct poisoning of rat burrows and increasing hygiene levels to make the city less appealing to the rodents. Despite the high number of resident complaints, the city hopes that this comprehensive approach will help control the rat population.
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