ACTION ALERT: Protect Wildlife and End The Use Of Toxic Rodenticides (SGARs)
Every year, countless raptors fall victim to poisoned rodents due to toxic rodenticides. These harmful chemicals not only endanger wildlife but also pose risks to our pets and children. Three municipalities in the Charles River Watershed—Arlington, Newbury, and Newton—have passed Home Rule Petitions that are now awaiting a decision in the state legislature.
We invite you to support these petitions, which will empower these towns to restrict the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). Your voice matters; show your support, protect our environment, and create a safer community for everyone!
Click the button below to send an email to Senate President Spilka and Representative Mariano:
Email Template:
Dear President Spilka and Speaker Mariano:
I urge you to support and bring to a vote the three related Home Rule Petitions that would allow three municipalities to restrict the application of second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides (SGARs) within their borders:
SGARs poison not only the mice and rats in our basements and dumpsters but the hawks, owls, coyotes, and other wildlife that feed on them. The widespread secondary poisoning of predators has devastating ecological effects, even impacting species like the Bald Eagle, undermining decades of efforts to recover raptors from the impacts of DDT.
We are heartened that Governor Healey has made biodiversity a signature issue via her Executive Order 618. However allowing the rampant application of SGARs is at direct odds with this executive order, as SGARs cause the lengthy and painful suffering and death of wildlife including keystone species such as raptors.
State law explicitly preempts cities and towns from regulating pesticide and rodenticide use on private property, which is why Arlington, Newbury, and Newton are seeking this exception through home rule.
Rodent control and SGAR use is completely appropriate for local regulation, as residents and businesses work at the neighborhood level with their boards of health, inspectional services offices, public works departments, and other municipal and institutional landowners on managing rodents, and keeping them out of the places they live, work, shop, dine, and recreate. Furthermore, the urbanized communities of Arlington and Newton suffer from low levels of biodiversity.
The residents of Arlington, Newbury, and Newton have spoken clearly and overwhelmingly that they prioritize wildlife and biodiversity, and want to move to more ecologically sound forms of pest control.
Thank you for your consideration.
[Name]
