Could birth control be the solution to one of Baltimore’s oldest pest problems?

It was one of several options explored this week by a Baltimore City Council committee gathered to discuss the city’s rat abatement efforts. Called at the behest of Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, the hearing of the council’s Health Environment and Technology Committee delved into the city’s current efforts to keep vermin at bay and ended with a push from the committee’s chair to launch a stronger public campaign on trash collection.

Like other waterfront cities, Baltimore is prone to rat infestation. The Norway rat, more commonly known as the brown rat, is the most prevalent in the city, feasting on garbage including animal waste. The city’s abundance of vacant properties further fuels the rat population.

The first line of defense against the creatures is keeping trash in cans and cleaning alleys, but Baltimore also has a dedicated Rat Rubout program, an 11-member team that responds to 311 requests from residents and also proactively places baits across the city where rat burrows are located. The team visits at least one of the city’s 14 council districts per day, and larger districts get at least two visits per month, officials explained to council members Wednesday.

In the first half of 2024, the Rat Rubout team’s workload has increased 25% over the same period in 2023, city officials told the council.

Porter, a Democrat who represents South Baltimore communities including Cherry Hill and Curtis Bay, questioned whether city officials have considered using rat birth control to reduce the population. The tactic, deployed via pellets eaten by rats, had been used in other cities with some success, Porter said. The New York City Council will vote this week on whether to begin using rat birth control.

Yvonne Moore-Jackson, deputy of the city’s Solid Waste Bureau, said representatives with ContraPest, a pest birth control company, gave a presentation to city staff. The city’s current permitting allows the Department of Public Works to use certain types of poison and bait. Officials are exploring whether rat birth control could be added, she said.

Councilman James Torrence, a Democrat who represents a West Baltimore district with numerous vacant homes, asked city officials if they have considered changing their policies that require consent from homeowners for bait to be placed on their properties. He suggested a program where residents could opt out rather than needing to opt in.

Moore-Jackson said the city currently has the ability to do rat abatement on vacant properties but they must have a vacant building notice attached to them, she conceded. Not all vacant homes in Baltimore have been tagged as vacant.

Otherwise, the city needs a consent order to be on private property, Moore-Jackson said. If a homeowner is not present when the Rat Rubout crew visits, the home is tagged with paperwork asking for consent. A homeowner can take their own steps to abate the problem or allow city crews to do the work, she said.

“I think we should be able to bait in there and charge them (owners) for it,” Torrence said of vacant homes.

Councilwoman Danielle McCray, chairwoman of the committee, said she would like the city to do a more robust educational campaign about trash similar to other jurisdictions in the area that have advertised online. Rat abatement starts with the proper storage of trash and residents need to be aware, she said.

“We had campaigns when I was growing up. We do not have them now,” McCray said. “People need to know we all share this space.”

Porter challenged city officials to improve their communication among agencies about rat abatement. While DPW heads the Rat Rubout team, the Department of Housing and Community Development issues citations.

“Other cities are beginning to speak more about it and solve these issues,” Porter said of rat abatement. “I want Baltimore to be a leader in that respect.”