VICTORY! Rat Birth Control Trial Passes Unanimously in New York City Council
Huge news for rats in New York City: The city council has unanimously voted to pass Flaco’s Law, which will introduce a rat birth control pilot program in two neighborhoods.
We’ve urged New York City to use nonlethal methods to control its rat population for years, and we’re delighted that it’s chosen rodent birth control, which showed great promise last year in a Boston trial.
PETA Championed Empathy For Rats
Mayor Eric Adams has said he hates rats, and he even declared war on them, making a show of hiring the city’s first “rat czar” last year. Doesn’t he know that hate never wins?
PETA urged the rat czar to prioritize effective population control methods like trash mitigation and birth control over cruel, lethal methods such as poison and suffocation, which don’t address rat reproduction rates or the reasons for the animals’ presence.
We also sent Adams an empathy kit with our iconic “Rats Have Rights” mug in hopes that he’d have some compassion for rats, who express empathy when another rat or a human they know is in distress.
Don’t Want Rats? Don’t Leave Trash!
Rats have never been out to terrorize New York or any other city—they’ve just adapted well to trash-strewn streets! If New York residents really want rats to move out of town, continuing to support the city’s “trash revolution” will get the job done.
Prevent Rats, Don’t Kill Them!
Instead of using glue traps, poison, snap traps, or other methods that maim and kill rats instead of preventing their presence, break the cycle of violence.
Whether you rent an apartment or own a home, there are plenty of humane ways to remove rats from your residence and prevent them from moving in with you, including eliminating sources of food and water and sealing up entrances that they and other animals could use:
Note: PETA supports animal rights and opposes all forms of animal exploitation and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.
