New York greenlights rat birth control to curb city’s infestation

New York ’s seemingly eternal battle against its rodent population has taken a new twist after the city council greenlighted pilot schemes to deploy rat contraceptives in a new bid to curb their booming population.

The Thursday-night vote means that in the next few months pilot programs will begin using ContraPest, a type of rodent birth control, that will be put in special containers aimed at encouraging the rats to ingest it.

“During such monthly inspections of the pilot program areas, the department shall track the amount of rat contraceptive in each rat contraceptive dispenser,” the local bill said.

Related: New York’s Flaco the owl had fatal conditions before colliding into building

The law was inspired by the tragic death of the city’s beloved but short-lived Flaco the Owl, who escaped from captivity and seemed to be flourishing amid Manhattan’s skyscrapers until he died and was found with rat poison in his system.

New York’s rat problem is known worldwide – even sparking a mini tourism industry around it with people offering rat tours after becoming known on social media for posting videos of city rats swarming through the streets and subways.

Last year, New York appointed its very own rat tsar, Kathleen Corradi, who was charged with getting a handle on what was dubbed “public enemy No 1”.

But New Yorkers also have a famous soft spot for the rats with whom they share the city. One of the city’s most beloved modern icons is “pizza rat” – so named after a video of a determined rat dragging a slice of pizza down some subway steps.