The relevant chemicals are Triptolide [2] and VCD [3], which are the principle ingredients of ContraPest, produced by SenesTech [4]. Contrapest requires regular doses to be effective, so this may prove to be a very lucrative contract for SenesTech. Any city councillors (or their friends/family) invested in SenesTech will surely profit as well.

> "We know these pellets are going to be attractive to rats because they're sweet. There's a compound in it called triptolide that targets ovarian function in female rats and sperm production in male rats," he said. Animal welfare organizations including PETA have shared support for the program's mission to keep poison out of the mouths of pets and wildlife.

If rats find the pellets sweet, then why shouldn't other mammals be attracted to it? Triptolide is toxic to mammals in general.

Did the city government take into account run-off? Triptolide is somewhat water soluble (0.017 mg/mL); NYC has a habit of getting flooded.

[2] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triptolide> [3] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-vinylcyclohexene_diepoxide> [4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SenesTech>