Katherine Stuart

February 9, 2026 Subject: Opposition to HB 1676 – Misguided Restrictions on Rodenticide Use Dear Members of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, I am writing to express my opposition to House Bill 1676. I urge you to oppose HB 1676 because it targets the wrong problem and will not reduce the harms it claims to address. The primary drivers of ecological harm, secondary poisoning, and long-term environmental contamination are second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). These compounds are persistent, bio-accumulative, and well-documented causing severe impacts to raptors, mammalian predators, pets, and non-target wildlife. Importantly, these harms occur regardless of whether SGARs are applied by consumers or by licensed pesticide applicators. HB 1676 focuses on restricting consumer access while allowing widespread SGAR use by professional applicators. This approach creates a false distinction between “professional” and “safe.” Licensing does not prevent secondary poisoning, trophic transfer, or environmental persistence. HB 1676 creates a false sense of safety and will actually increase total poison use by shifting rodent control toward contracted entities. Numerous studies and state experiences show that professional use remains a major source of exposure for owls, hawks, foxes, bobcats, and other non-target species. Restricting consumers alone does not solve this problem. A more effective and responsible approach would be to: Limit or phase out SGARs for both consumers and applicators Promote integrated pest management (IPM) practices Encourage the use of first-generation anticoagulants, trapping, and exclusion methods Reserve SGARs, if at all, for narrowly defined emergency public-health situations New Hampshire has an opportunity to pursue policy grounded in ecological science and real-world outcomes. HB 1676, as written, does not accomplish that goal and risks perpetuating the very harms it seeks to prevent. Please support the health of our wildlife, our pets, and humans and limit the use of SGARs. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 1676 or amend it to directly address SGAR use across all sectors. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, /s/ Katherine W. Stuart Katherine W. Stuart Shelburne, NH?