FAQs About the Rodent Fertility Control Study
FAQs About the Rodent Fertility Control Study
Q: What is the Rodent Fertility Control Study, and why are we doing this?
The Rodent Fertility Control Study is an initiative to test new rat fertility products that have fewer environmental impacts than traditional products. We are trying to learn more about the effectiveness of these new rat fertility products.
Currently, the state-of-the-art products for reducing rodent activity are second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, also known as SGARs. While highly effective at killing rodent populations, these products have a variety of flaws that are leading lawmakers at all levels of government to consider restricting their usage.
One of the leading concerns with SGARs is the effect on non-target animals. SGARs are known to affect natural predators of rats such as raptors, cats, foxes, and other endangered wildlife, as they can kill or poison any animal that hunts and eats rats or mice which may have consumed SGAR poison bait.
Additionally, there is some early evidence that suggests rodents can learn to detect and avoid SGAR poison bait traps after observing other rats consume the bait and die. With the push from many communities to reduce the environmental impact of rodent control practices, there is natural interest and attention on a new line of fertility control products. Through this study, we hope to learn more about using these products and integrating them into our cities’ integrated pest management plans as we prepare to generally phase out the use of SGARs, except in critical cases.
Q: Why should I participate in this study?
A: This study offers an opportunity to contribute to research that supports more environmentally friendly pest control measures while providing a better understanding of rodent activity on your property, at no cost to you.
The main benefit of participating is that the baits used in this study may reduce rodent activity around your property. To achieve this, we aim to assess specific property conditions, provide this free baiting with the hormonal control product, and utilize our bait stations to track rodent activity. If the baits used do not prove to be effective, we will stop the use of the study treatment and switch to standard pest control measures. As a broader benefit, your participation may assist in demonstrating the effectiveness of the bait products as alternatives to harmful rodenticides. This helps support more eco-conscious pest control efforts that do not harm local wildlife.
Q: What is the product and how does it work?
A: The Rodent Fertility Control Study is specifically testing the solid bait product Evolve. The product is a roughly one-pound sausage made up of the active ingredient, stabilizers, and nutrient products that attract rodents.
The active ingredient in Evolve, as well as similar fertility control products, works by killing female ova (eggs) and disrupting the production of sperm in males. This results in rodents being rendered temporarily infertile after consuming the product, for the span of about one week. By only temporarily rendering rodents infertile with negligible side effects, we avoid sterilizing raptors and other natural predators in the same way SGARs cause secondary kills. We also avoid scenarios in which rodents may learn to avoid bait traps by observing other rodents becoming sick or dying after consuming bait, as can happen with traditional SGARs.
However, this does mean rodent populations must regularly consume fertility control products in order for them to be effective. It also means that a majority of the rodent population must consume the product in order for there to be a significant effect, as non-sterilized rodents will breed and supplant sterilized rodents. Therefore, one of our challenges in deployment is ensuring that rodent populations are fully saturated with a large supply of the fertility control product.
Q: Should I change any of my rodent control practices during the study?
A: In general, as we hope to deploy fertility control products alongside other rodent control methods in future, we advise against changing your current rodent control practices. However, we do request that any poison bait traps, such as SGARs, are not used during the course of the study so that target rodents do not learn to avoid consuming bait. Other kill traps, such as snap traps or glue traps should not interfere with study results. Existing rodent control stations / boxes can have the poison baits (ex: SGARs) removed and replaced with snap traps, allowing existing control measures to continue. We also encourage containerizing and separating food waste into designated, secured containers. By separating your food waste into compost collection containers, rodents are less likely to find food, and will have to rely on delicious fertility control bait for their nutritional needs, which will make our product more effective! You can request a food waste & compost bin from Cambridge Department of Public Works.
Q: How does the study measure the effectiveness of the product?
A: To track rodent activity, we measure bait consumption after each visit to a bait station; use motion sensors to measure general activity of local rats; and use wildlife trail cameras to confirm motion sensors detections are rats rather than non-target animals (e.g., cats, raccoons, mice).
Q: How long will the study last?
A: The study is projected to last for roughly 8 – 12 months, depending on the effectiveness and sustainability of the product. If the product is found to be effective enough, we may transition the study to become a permanent part of the City of Cambridge’s Pest Management Program.
Q: What happens if the product isn’t effective enough to reduce rat activity?
A: As we are effectively trying to replace SGARs with fertility control products and not stopping any other rodent control practices such as kill traps or food waste control, we expect that rodent activity will remain generally equivalent to activity in other years if the product is ineffective. We will continually monitor rodent activity at all sites to judge efficacy of the product. We will also continue to treat rodent burrows, encourage waste separation, and deploy other non-SGAR kill traps in study areas.
If at any point it is determined that these proven methods are insufficient to control rodent activity alongside our test product, we will immediately cease study activity and deploy standard rodent control measures consistent with the City of Cambridge Integrated Pest Management policy. We will review study data monthly to track trends and catch any runaway rodent populations as part of these ongoing determinations. Concerned residents are encouraged to report rodent sightings to the Inspectional Services Department to help with our ongoing monitoring and data collection during the study.
Q: What can we expect in terms of rat activity during the study?
A: Rodent populations naturally increase during warmer seasons, especially as people are outside more often and leave more food waste out. Because the product is targeting the rat population birth rate, there is a predicted lag time between the study start and measurable changes in rodent activity. In one study performed in Los Angeles, bait consumption peaked in the third month before rodent activity dropped substantially. We predict at least a few weeks before there’s a noticeable change in local activity. Higher levels of participation should help saturate the rodent population and reduce the curve more quickly.
Q: How can I help fight rats in my neighborhood?
A: Tell your neighbors and friends about our study! Higher study participation will help improve our results and reduce rat activity over the course of the year. People outside study areas can help fight rats in their area and on their property by following simple practices:
- Separate your food waste from other trash into secure containers for collection, which forces rodents to look elsewhere for food.
- Clean up debris and waste on your property or on your street and put into available trash bins or containers, which eliminates nesting materials and foodstuffs that support local rats.
- Look for rat burrows, especially near foundations, under sidewalks, or in hidden areas under shrubs or ledges. Burrows can be reported to your city’s Inspectional Services Department by calling 311.
- Report local rat activity by calling 311, or using an online reporting service. Cambridge residents can easily report rat sightings on the Cambridge ISD website, or on the City of Cambridge’s Rodent Sighting website.. Somerville residents must call 311.
- Talk to your neighbors about rats! Working together across properties to eliminate burrows, protect food waste, and report rat activity is the most efficient way to crack down on local rat populations.
- Have an issue on your property? You may be eligible for your city’s free private baiting program. Contact your local inspectional services department to ask for a consultation, or go online to your city’s website.
Q: How can I get involved in the Rodent Fertility Control Study?
A: To enroll in our study you can fill out the Rat Fertility Control Study Consent Form,. The next best way to help our study is to enroll and tell your neighbors about us! Increasing participation will help in every step of our work. If you want to do more, we have a variety of volunteer roles and opportunities to help support our work, from outreach to bait deployment to data collection! If you are interested in volunteering with the Rodent Fertility Control Study, you can fill out our quick Field Team Interest Form with your contact information and what you are interested in helping with.
Updated: September 23, 2024