Help Pass Legislation to Save Wildlife from Dangerous Poisons

bald eagle USFWS cropped

The death of Arlington's beloved MK the Bald Eagle on March 1 after ingesting rat poison was the latest heartbreaking reminder that we must pass legislation to limit the use of anticoagulent rodenticides.

Anticoagulant rodenticides kill rodents by preventing blood from clotting normally. Native birds and wildlife, including eagles, owls, and other birds of prey, often become unintended victims when they eat rodents that have consumed poisoned bait. This causes birds to bleed uncontrollably and die excrutiating deaths.

This is all the more tragic because birds of prey are nature's best method of pest control—one family of Great Horned Owls can eat up to 1,000 rats in a year!

The Commonwealth's Joint Committee on Environment & Natural Resources held a public hearing on this bill on Wednesday, May 10, and they want to hear from you! This is your opportunity to show your support for regulating the use of anticoagulant rodenticides . Comments sent within the next week will be entered into the record, and will guide the committee's decision on whether to advance this bill.

Eagles, owls, hawks, and all of the predators that eat rodents need your help!

Recipients

State Representative Daniel 'Dan' Cahill
State Senator Rebecca 'Becca' L. Rausch

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Dear [Decision Maker],

As a resident of Massachusetts committed to protecting our environment and habitats, I urge you to give a favorable report to "An Act relative to pesticides" (S.487/H.825), filed by Senator Feeney and Representative Hawkins. This bill passed both the House and the Senate last session and should be advanced right away.

This bill would better regulate the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), thereby reducing their deadly impacts on birds of prey and other wildlife, by:

* Increasing the use of ecosystem-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in Massachusetts, including on public lands.

* Educating consumers about the benefits of IPM and the negative impacts of SGARs.

* Requiring digitization of pesticide use forms, which would make them more accessible and searchable.

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Thank you for your consideration, and for giving this bill an early hearing. By improving our approaches to pest management, we can reduce the need for rodenticides at their source and prevent any more senseless wildlife deaths.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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[Your Email]