Rodenticide Ban Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House (H965/S644)

Lighthouse Photography

Back in 2023, as a volunteer for Mass Audubon, I took my humble Western MA self to Beacon Hill to testify in front of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to be a voice for a ban on rodenticides. I’m just a normal, everyday person like you…who quivers and loses her voice when I try to do any kind of public speaking…but who is passionate about nature advocacy. So, I did my research, submitted my testimony ahead of time (required) and showed up. At the time, it was just Sam Anderson (Director of Legislative and Government Affairs at Mass Audubon) and me who showed up along with another small nature group from Arlington and surrounding areas. (You can watch my testimony from 2023 below.) Fast forward to yesterday, two years later, over 200 people showed up to lobby and meet their respective legislators! WAY TO GO! (I want to add that for anyone who ever wants to participate at the State House level or even just to come observe, I’m happy to have you join me! Testimony and lobbying isn’t a frequently happening thing for this, but for this bill or any future nature/wildlife bills, you’ll find me on Beacon Hill whenever possible.)

What the Rodenticide Ban Bill Is:

The ban is asking legislators to prohibit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) and second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (sGAR) because this type of poison infects the rodents (mice, etc.) once eaten and builds up in the rodent’s system for approximately 10 days…increasing in potency until the rodent bleeds internally to death slowly…or until it is consumed by a bird of prey or other predatory animals (fox, bobcats, etc.). Once consumed, that predator is now going to suffer the same fate. You can find the full current bill PDF here.

What is Rodenticide Exactly?

As mentioned above, the type of rodenticides we are asking for a ban on are ARs and sGARS…which are anticoagulant poisons that grow in toxicity as the animal bleeds internally to death over about 10 days.

Have you ever been in line at your favorite coffee shop drive-thru and seen black boxes against the wall on the ground? Like this?

Photo belongs to The Berkshire Eagle

And, please know that none of us expect any home or business owner to have a pest problem…we are just asking for another type of mitigation to be used.

So If Not Rodenticide, What Can Be Used to Treat Rodent Issues in Homes and Businesses?

First, it’s important to know that even some pest control companies are jumping on board to support this bill!

In order of preference:

The first means is to mitigate the area of the problem to make sure there are no holes and openings for rodents to get in and use non-toxic repellants. And to let neighborhood predators and raptors to do their jobs!

The next best option is to remove food sources (lingering pet food, bird feed, garbage, waste, etc.).

Next option, if the first two are not enough, is to use non-poisonous methods like snap-traps, CO2 sprayers, dry ice, Rat-X, contraceptives.

Lastly, and least favorable would be Cholecalciferol.

It’s important to note that it’s likely that pest control companies, their employees, and their customers (like you) are not aware that the solution to your rodent issues or prevention is actually killing the other vital local wildlife that we all love. Eagles, hawks, fox, and so on. Yesterday even legislators admitted to not knowing what these poisons are or what they do!!!

Is the Bill Being Voted On Now?

No. That is why we need to lobby and is why we need your help. The process is as follows…a bill is introduced by legislators to the appropriate committee. In this case, Representative Hawkins and Senator Moore introduced the bill. Other legislators need to co-sponsor the bill and then need to give what is called a favorable report for it to make it to the floor to be voted on. Currently, the bill was introduced but is still sitting in committee status. After the lobby day I attended yesterday…which only happened after many of us made our voices heard loudly…120 out of 200 legislators have co-sponsored!!! YAY! This includes Easthampton’s own Representative Homar Gomez and Hampshire/Hampden County’s own Senator John Velis!

While we do have the support of Gomez and Velis, our work isn’t done. We need you to contact them to let them know you want a “favorable report of bills H965/S644” so it can go to vote. Want me to make this easy for you? Fill this out and it will get sent right to them without even having to know their names or contact info!

We need to join the growing number of municipalities that are restricting rodenticides on public properties and to get this ban passed.

Enjoy these videos and photos from when 4 raptors and 200+ citizens filled the State House to get legislators to listen.

Tanya’s testimony from 2023 below.

Important credit should be given to Mass Audubon’s own Heather Packard and Sam Anderson and to the MSPCA, along with all the small local volunteer environmental groups for joining forces to help these animals.