Jennifer Gasbarro

I support HB1018 to prohibit the use of dangerous second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). SGARs kill unintended wildlife. These poisons were originally formulated to kill rodents like rats and mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals, but rodents are the main food source of most raptors. If a mother owl feeds a rodenticide-poisoned mouse to her baby owlet, it will kill the baby in an excruciating manner. SGARs are anti-coagulants; the babies and whatever raptor consumes the rodents, will bleed out from the inside, a slow, painful death. SGARs are powerful poisons that stay in tissues and organs of rodents for months, making it easy for predators that naturally eat rodents – such as owls, eagles, and hawks -- to get a lethal dose of toxins. Rodents frequently eat more than a single dose. Since the rodent doesn't die instantly, this allows the rodent to continue consuming the toxins. Birds of prey don't have a chance against this super lethal build-up in the rodent's tissues. SGARs are a risk to all. SGARs not only kill a variety of animals, but they also weaken and sicken them too, making them vulnerable to other causes of death. The evidence that SGARs poses an unreasonable risk to wildlife is piling up. Tragically, unintentional secondary poisonings from SGARs are increasing at an alarming rate and victims include wildlife, pets, and children. There are better solutions available using integrated pest management. SGARs are not the most effective or sustainable solution. A combination of prevention, exclusion, and humane trapping is safer, more effective long-term, and protects ecosystems.