Science & Nature
Bait and Switch: Here’s What Rat Birth Control Looks Like in Chicago
Chicago has a new tactic in its battle against rats: It’s rat birth control.
The North River Commission — serving Albany Park, Irving Park and North Park — is the latest community organization to give the method a try.
“We have small business rebates, we do the trash pickup, holiday decor, snow removal, things of that sort. And now, rat birth control,” said Farah El Nahal, an economic development specialist with the North River Commission and manager of Special Service Area (SSA) No. 60, which is funding the rat birth control pilot.
Volunteers from the neighborhood signed up to help manage the program. Training sessions included info on the “sausages” that contain the birth control.
“These are plant-based sausages. In them is cottonseed oil, which is the ingredient which acts as a way to reduce the fertility in both male and female rats,” El-Nahal explained.
The rat birth control pilot project is rolling out along a busy commercial stretch of Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park. Volunteers helped place the bait boxes in alleys and they’ll regularly refill them with sausages to keep the rats coming back.
“The goal,” El-Nahal said, “is for them to have less babies so we’ll see less rats.”
For more on the rollout of the pilot program in Albany Park and more stories like this, check out this week’s edition of WTTW News’ Urban Nature newsletter.
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
