Albany Park Expands Chicago Rat Birth Control Pilot
The program places bait boxes laced with rat birth control in the neighborhood to reduce the rat population over time.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Wildlife
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Chicago's rat birth control pilot program has expanded into Albany Park, with 40 bait boxes placed throughout the neighborhood. The program was first launched in 2025 by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and has since reached Lincoln Park.
Why it matters
Rats are a persistent problem in the area, and the program aims to curb their numbers by reducing the fertility of male and female rats. The approach offers an alternative to traditional extermination for residents dealing with the issue.
The Albany Park rollout cost about $12,000 and placed 40 boxes across the neighborhood. Rats can have up to 12 litters per year, and the program takes three to six months to show a measurable difference.
The players
Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
A business advocacy group in Chicago's Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods that originally launched the rat birth control program in 2025.
Timmy Knudsen
The 43rd Ward alderman in Chicago who spearheaded the program's expansion into Lincoln Park in February 2026.
The details
Boxes are baited with a plant-based sausage containing cottonseed oil, which rats eat and which reduces the fertility of male and female rats. The Albany Park program is run by the North River Commission, and everyone placing boxes and bait is a volunteer, with the rollout funded by Special Service Area project money for Albany Park and Irving Park.
Timeline
2025: The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce first launched the program.
February 2026: 43rd Ward Ald. Timmy Knudsen spearheaded the Lincoln Park expansion.
2026: The program expanded onto the North Side, including Lincoln Park.
2027: The city expects to expand rodent control work with passage of the budget.
Culture Shift
The Albany Park expansion extends a fertility-reducing rat bait approach first tested in Wicker Park and Bucktown, offering a non-lethal alternative to traditional poisoning in urban neighborhoods. It reflects a growing willingness among Chicago community groups to fund targeted, volunteer-run pest-control efforts.
Albany Park residents may see boxes baited with rat birth control placed around the neighborhood, with the effect taking three to six months to become noticeable. Residents dealing with rats can expect the approach to be a non-lethal option tied to volunteer-run placement.
The takeaway
Residents concerned about rats in Albany Park should expect gradual results over several months rather than immediate change. The program's reliance on volunteers and its phased expansion across Chicago neighborhoods shows how community groups are testing new approaches to a longstanding urban problem.
Further reading
For more on urban animal populations, see Wildlife coverage across Chicago.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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