D.C. Launches Rat Control Pilot in Adams Morgan

Washington, D.C., health officials announced a new pilot program on Wednesday to combat the city's worsening rat infestation, deploying a combination of poisons and fertility control bait starting this spring in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.

The initiative, led by the D.C. Department of Health, targets areas with high rodent activity through a three-pronged approach. Teams will place second-generation anticoagulant bait directly into rat burrows to kill rodents on site. They will also apply first-generation anticoagulant tracking powder, which clings to the animals' fur and proves fatal when ingested during grooming. Complementing these lethal measures is a nonlethal fertility control bait designed to reduce rat reproduction rates over time by administering liquid contraceptives. The program, estimated to cost $130,000, will unfold in three-week cycles: inspectors apply all methods initially, monitor activity, and conduct follow-up treatments in subsequent weeks to target any surviving offspring.

Adams Morgan, known for its vibrant mix of restaurants, bars, and shops, was selected as the starting point due to persistent complaints about poor trash management in private...