Introduction to Rat Birth Control
For 10 years in a row, Chicago has been deemed “America’s rattiest city” by Orkin Pest Control. The city really wants to shake off the title — and a new effort in the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods could help do just that.
The Pilot Project
A temporary pilot project, announced late last month, is bringing rat birth control to the alleyways behind several of the major commercial and residential areas in the two neighborhoods. The program is sponsored by the Wicker Park Chamber of Commerce and the Special Service Area No. 33.
Project Details
The project will last for three months with the option for a longer-term extension, and could reduce the neighborhoods’ rodent population by targeting the creature’s superpower: making lots of babies.
‘A human control method’
The product, a solid pellet shaped like a sausage, being deployed in Wicker Park and Bucktown is called Evolve, and was developed by Arizona-based company SenesTech.
How it Works
Evolve’s active ingredient, cottonseed oil, impacts fertility in both male and female rats without causing them harm, said Bryan DiMenna, SenesTech’s vice president of sales. It’s been labeled a “low-risk pesticide” by the EPA, meaning it poses little to no risk to human health or the environment.
Comparison to Rat Poison
That’s in contrast to rat poison, long a go-to choice for managing rodents. Poison can lead to a particularly brutal death for any animal ingesting it, according to Maureen Murray, who leads the Chicago Rat Project at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The most common poisons stop the body’s blood from clotting so that the animal bleeds to death, either from an internal or external wound.
The Problem with Rat Poison
“Rat poison is a really big issue for biodiversity,” Murray said. “These rats have poison in their bodies and they are running around being hunted by owls, hawks, foxes and other urban wildlife.” At the same time, poison is becoming less effective as rats have not only learned to avoid it, but some have even developed a resistance to it.
The Benefits of Birth Control
Enter birth control. Similar to the human pill, the rats have to continuously eat the birth control in order for it to be effective. “There’s a cumulative effect with it,” DiMenna said. “We found a 61% decrease in birth rates in the first gestation cycle, so that’s a severe reduction in the litter. And within several cycles the rates drop down further, and eventually stops their breeding.”
Why Birth Control is Effective
And because birth control is temporary, they’re not going to develop a resistance to it because it’s not killing them or permanently altering them, Murray said. “Contraceptives are good because rats have evolved to reproduce really quickly. So slowing down the population makes more sense than trying to kill them all really quickly and is more effective in the long run,” Murray said.
Implementation and Locations
The birth control has been placed in alleys along North Avenue between Damen and Ashland Avenues, Ashland Avenue between North Avenue and Division Street, Milwaukee Avenue between Division Street and Damen Avenue and Division Street between Ashland and Damen Avenues. SenesTech will return in a couple weeks to put out the birth control along the residential alleys in that area, DiMenna said.
Community Involvement
Managing the city’s rat population has clear benefits. Keeping the rat population low prevents the spread of certain diseases like leptospirosis, a serious bacterial infection spread through urine that can be fatal for humans and especially dogs. Humans also have a responsibility to manage the rat population. Trash is the main attractant for rats, especially open and overflowing cans in residential and commercial alleys.
Call to Action
“Just do your part; pick up after yourself,” DiMenna said. “If you see trash, pick it up. Keep your bins closed. Don’t wait till tomorrow.”
Conclusion
The use of rat birth control in Wicker Park and Bucktown is a step in the right direction for managing the city’s rodent population. By targeting the rats’ ability to reproduce, the city can reduce the population without resorting to harmful poisons. It is a more humane and effective approach that also involves the community in keeping the city clean and free of attractants for rats.
FAQs
Q: What is the name of the rat birth control product being used in Wicker Park and Bucktown?
A: The product is called Evolve, developed by Arizona-based company SenesTech.
Q: How does the birth control work?
A: The active ingredient, cottonseed oil, impacts fertility in both male and female rats without causing them harm.
Q: What are the benefits of using birth control instead of rat poison?
A: Birth control is a more humane approach, does not harm the environment, and is more effective in the long run as rats do not develop resistance to it.
Q: What can the community do to help manage the rat population?
A: Keep trash cans closed, pick up trash, and keep the city clean to reduce attractants for rats.
