Stephanie Rinehart-Joseph

I am writing to oppose HB 1676. This bill would create a monopoly for the pest control industry by restricting rodenticide sales to licensed operators only. Rather than protecting wildlife and public health, it would actually expand the market for these deadly poisons by shifting use from occasional homeowner application to ongoing commercial contracts. The pest control industry profits from fear-based "rodent control" through long-term contracts that keep outdoor bait stations endlessly refilled. This creates steady revenue for companies and poison manufacturers, but it doesn't solve rodent problems. It creates them by killing off the natural predators that would otherwise control rodent populations. What the industry calls "responsible use" has brought us to where we are today: widespread outdoor baiting that poisons hawks, owls, eagles, fishers, foxes, and other wildlife. Studies show 68% of red-tailed hawks already have rodenticide toxins in their systems. Professional use hasn't prevented this crisis. HB 1676 doesn't address the real problem. It simply hands control to an industry with a financial incentive to maintain ongoing poison use rather than implement true solutions. Integrated Pest Management techniques that focus on prevention, exclusion, and non-toxic methods are more effective, but they don't generate the same recurring revenue. If we're serious about protecting New Hampshire's wildlife, we should be restricting rodenticide use altogether, not creating a system that encourages more of it. Please vote against HB 1676.