New California Law Would Further Protect Wildlife From Super Toxic Rat Poisons

A new bill proposed in California would make great strides in protecting wildlife threatened by super-toxic rat poisons. Assembly Bill 1788, introduced by California Assemblymember Richard Bloom, (D-Santa Monica), would restrict super-toxic rodenticides — known as second generation anticoagulant rodenticides — that have been linked to the poisoning of animals, pets and people in communities across California.

A December 2018 state analysis by the Department of Pesticide Regulation documented super-toxic rat poisons in more than 85 percent of tested mountain lions, bobcats and protected Pacific fishers. This prompted the state agency to reevaluate whether to restrict or ban second generation anticoagulant rodenticides because of the “significant adverse impact” they have on the environment and wildlife.

Despite previous regulatory efforts in 2013 to restrict availability of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides only to those with a certified application permit, super toxic rat poisons continue cause widespread wildlife poisonings.

A.B. 1788 would ban some of the most dangerous rodenticides in residential and commercial areas where people, pets and wildlife are frequently exposed. But it allows their continued use to protect California’s agricultural economy and to protect public health and the environment during an emergency rodent or disease outbreak.

I OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THE RAT PROBLEM