Philly’s Rat ‘Emergency’ Prompts PETA Prescription: Birth Control

For Immediate Release:
October 14, 2026

Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382

The Philadelphia City Council declared the growing rodent population in the Lower Northeast a “public health and quality-of-life emergency,” so PETA has sent a letter today to Mayor Cherelle Parker with a proposal: Put rats on birth control instead of poisoning them. The appeal draws on lessons from other cities and comes right after Philadelphia jumped a spot on an annual ranking to become the third most rodent-populated city in the U.S.

PETA notes that poisons are cruel to the small mammals, causing them slow, painful deaths, and have proven to be an inadequate and ineffective long-term solution, as nearby rats quickly move into newly available territory. Instead, PETA is calling on the city to pair its sanitation and waste-control efforts with contraception, which reduces rat reproduction over time without also poisoning non-target wildlife species or animal companions who ingest bait. PETA is also sending the mayor one of its wildly popular “Rats Have Rights” mugs.

“Poisoning and trapping rats is a cruel and ineffective approach that inflicts painful deaths on animals who are just trying to eke out an existence, yet fails to address what’s attracting them in the first place,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Mayor Parker to focus on a long-term and humane solution via prevention and rat contraception.”

PETA points out that rats are empathetic, family-oriented individuals who will put themselves in harm’s way to save someone else. Residents can help do their part to keep populations under control by never leaving out food and keeping trash in covered, chew-proof containers.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and fear, a rat is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Parker follows.

October 14, 2026

The Honorable Cherelle L. Parker

Mayor of Philadelphia

Dear Mayor Parker:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including over 256,000 in Pennsylvania— in response to Philadelphia being named the third U.S. city with the most rats. We respectfully urge you to move away from any ineffective and cruel killing methods to control rodent populations, and to consider the use of rat contraception programs, which are more humane, effective long-term solutions.

Even though rats may be among the city’s least popular residents, they deserve humane treatment. They are only in urban areas because humans have created environments that attract them and allow their populations to grow. We appreciate that Philadelphia already takes some preventive measures, including requiring garbage to be kept in leak-proof containers with tight-fitting lids, as well as the recent City Council resolution calling on departments to collaborate in addressing the rat population in the Lower Northeast. Yet as recently as 2025, Philadelphia was soliciting rodenticides for use by city agencies, which cause a slow and painful death.

Poisons and other lethal methods, like cruel glue traps, create a temporary vacuum that nearby rats will quickly fill, fail to address the root of the problem, and lead to an endless cycle of killing. When paired with common-sense prevention measures such as improved sanitation and infrastructure and secure food and waste storage, rodent contraception can help reduce rat populations without causing animals to suffer. Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., are among the cities already using specialized contraceptive pellets and liquid fertility bait, which reduce rodent populations over time without poisoning nontarget wildlife or companion animals.

Rats are clever and empathetic. They have friends, comfort distressed companions, and will forgo treats to save another rat from suffering, including strangers. A proactive, compassionate campaign would help all Philadelphia residents live in peace without harming anyone. To celebrate these remarkable rodents, we’ll be sending you our “Rats Have Rights” mug. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

President