Flaco the City Owl: Death Sparks Rat Contraceptive Pilot Program to Protect Urban Fauna

Do you remember Flaco, the Eurasian owl who escaped from the zoo and became the most famous escapee in the city? Well, he continues making noise from beyond.

“The evidence showed that Flaco consumed a lot, a lot of rat poison,” said Councilman Shaun Abreu.

Flaco died from exposure to rodenticides before crashing into a building last February, having been the most wanted animal in the Big Apple, and his loss highlights the need to address several problems, including rats.

“We are establishing a pilot program that will bring contraceptives to address the rat crisis,” Abreu added.

Contraceptives for rats? Yes, she heard right.

Councilman Abreu says that sterilizing rats would control the rodent population through an approach of, let’s say, “family planning” and thus protect urban fauna, such as the legendary Flaco, who died with a dangerous amount of poison in his system (hence the so-called ‘Skinny’s Law’).

“And if we work on this problem with contraceptives, which does not impact animals like dogs or birds, this would be, I think, an achievement,” Abreu said.

“Flaco deserved a city that didn’t poison its own wildlife.

“Today I had the honor of supporting @LightsOutNYS as they introduced legislation that would test a humane alternative to rodenticides: rat contraceptives.

“It is more effective and much safer for birds of prey,” Abreu also wrote in a message on social networks.

Flaco deserved a city that doesn’t poison its own wildlife.

Today, I was honored to stand with @LightsOutNYS as I introduced legislation that would pilot a humane alternative to rodenticides: rat contraceptives.

It’s more effective and far safer for birds of prey. pic.twitter.com/KfT84WUEzt

— Shaun Abreu (@ShaunAbreu) April 11, 2024

Abreu affirms that the city’s efforts to eliminate rats have been ineffective and harmful, so he demonstrated, with bird advocates, to ask the municipal council to approve the ‘Skinny Laws’ that also includes legislation to reduce collisions kill birds by installing new lights and windows.

The “Skinny Laws” also have the goal of making the Big Apple the most welcoming home for birds in the entire country.

Flaco became a symbol of the city, winning the hearts of everyone, like that of the artist Calicho Arevalo, who paid tribute to him.

“I have done several murals of Flaco throughout the city. I have also developed illustrations about Flaco and I have painted on many clothes and in my paintings The Owl. So it is like the opportunity to show that not only has he been an influence on my art, but in the lives of many people,” Arévalo said.

“I like the idea that they made that law for the protection of our birds or the birds here in New York, so I am delighted and I put the skinny in my purse or my bag to always remember it,” said Martha Gagnay, a Flaco fan .

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2024-04-11 20:40:00
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