“A rat in DC’s Kingman Park neighborhood is captured by the remote monitoring cameras deployed for research. Photo by Dr. Rebecca M. Gooley of WISDOM Good Works.”
“Dear PoPville,
Rats have been a hot topic in DC—from DC Health’s rat blitz to a swelling rodent population driven by climate change.
The DC Responsible Rat Management coalition just launched a year-long study in Kingman Park testing two approaches tailored to residential neighborhoods, including fertility control.”
From a press release:
“The DC Responsible Rat Management coalition has launched a year‑long study in the Kingman Park neighborhood to evaluate two strategies for reducing urban rat populations. Led by wildlife biologist Dr. Rebecca M. Gooley, the study tests a new rodent contraceptive alongside improved waste‑management practices.
In May, researchers began treatments across selected alleyways. Over the next 12 months, the research team, in coordination with a group of community volunteers, will track fertility control bait consumption and rodent sightings using remote sensing cameras. (more…)
