Stop the use of first and second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW; THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Here’s the Rodenticide Bill Update:

The Senate version of the bill to phase out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides, An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment (S2721) was given a favorable report by the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  The House version (H965) is still under consideration by the ENR committee with a 30-day extension on the deadline, now January 26, for the House ENR committee members to vote on the bill.  TAKE ACTION: use this link You can help!

Contact the office of the House ERN Chair, Representative Christine Barber at (617) 722-2230 or email Christine.Barber@mahouse.gov to request that the House members of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources vote soon and give a favorable report to H965An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment.

H695 and S2721 are bills that would limit the use of rodenticides in our environment. The Senate bill was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Rodenticides are a poison that is used to kill rats, but ends up killing very many non-targeted animals such as owls, eagles, hawks and coyotes, that eat the poisoned rats and then die a painful death. These birds of prey are actually the solution to our rat over population, as they each eat 1,000-2,000 rodents per year. In California they have studied using rodenticide verses introducing hawks, to mitigate rat populations. The hawks were much more successful in limiting the rat population.

Please contact your legislators, please ask them to do everything in their power to advocate for these two bills, to prioritize them and encourage house and senate leadership to take them up and pass them. Please include your name and the town you live in as well as asking for the legislator to support and advocate for these bills.

Find your legislator’s contact information here and call or email them asking them to support, advocate and prioritize these bills for passage, to protect our birds of prey, wildlife and pets.

We Need Your Help

Photo Credit: Amelia Szymkowicz, Friend’s of Halls Pond

Data from the Mass Audubon website

Request your pest control company to not use SGARs. Some companies use multiple approaches to pest control

Contact your Public Works Department: Learn what methods your local government uses to control pests and share information about safer alternatives

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Hawk sitting in front of boston skyline