Good news: AB 1788, the bill to ban cruel and deadly rodenticides (rat poison) in California, passed the Senate by a 49-16 vote. This bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), will greatly restrict the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides, which harm many non-target animals including bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, owls and hawks. It also prohibits first generation anticoagulant rodenticides on state properties.
The bill has now moved to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and will have a hearing on June 19th. Wild animals need your voice to protect them from these inhumane and unnecessary poisons.
Please act today—if your State Senator sits on the Committee, please ask him or her to vote YES on AB 1788.
Below is a list of State Senators who sit on the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Go here to see if one of these State Senators represents your district. If so, please write and call him or her in support of the legislation. You can simply say, “As your constituent, I ask you to please vote YES on AB 1788, the California Ecosystems Protection Act. This legislation will prevent ecological destruction and protect wild animals from suffering cruel and unnecessary deaths.” Please consider personalizing your message – additional talking points below. Comments are due June 10th.
Senator Benjamin Allen: (916) 651-4026; submit written comments here
Senator Patricia C. Bates: (916) 651-4036; submit written comments here
Senator Jerry Hill: (916) 651-4013; submit written comments here
Senator Nancy Skinner: (916) 651-4009; submit written comments here
Senator Henry I. Stern: (916) 651-4027; submit written comments here
Senator Jeff Stone: (916) 651-4028; submit written comments here
Senator Bob Wieckowski: (916) 651-4010; submit written comments here
Join us on June 19th in Sacramento!
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee is holding a hearing on AB 1788 – your presence speaks volumes. You can simply attend and say, “I support AB 1788.”
What: Hearing on AB 1788 by Senate Environmental Quality Committee
Where: State Capitol, 10th and L Streets, Room 3191, Sacramento, CA
Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM (we recommend arriving by 9:00 AM)
Talking Points:
- This bill targets only the most dangerous rodenticides. It would abolish the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in California, with exceptions for agricultural activities and by special permit. It would also ban first generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) on state-owned lands.
- Rodenticides have widespread and detrimental impacts on the very species who help regulate rodent populations – including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, hawks, eagles, and owls. Rodenticides are counterproductive to long-term pest management solutions for rodent control because they destroy the health of California’s ecosystems by indiscriminately poisoning, harming and killing native wildlife who eat poisoned rodents.
- Data demonstrate that more than 80 percent of native carnivore species—including bobcats, coyotes, foxes and cougars, spotted owls, Pacific fishers, and other endangered animals—have been exposed to these poisons. In March, a mountain lion who died in the wilderness west of Los Angeles had six compounds of a rat poison in his system.
- Rodenticides can cause a slow, agonizing death for the animals who ingest them and can weaken their immune systems, making them vulnerable to mange and other diseases.
- In addition to harming wildlife, anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs and FGARs) pose a dangerous risk to children who may accidentally ingest these highly toxic poisons. Between 1999 and 2009, the American Association of Poison Control Centers received reports of an average of 17,000 human exposures to rodenticides each year, and roughly 15,000 of those exposures occurred in children less than six years of age.
- Rodenticides are one of the top ten pet toxins.
- At least 29 jurisdictions in California have passed resolutions discouraging stores from selling rodenticides.
- here are more humane, safer alternatives to deadly rat poison, including sealing buildings and eliminating food attractants, repellents and sterilization techniques.
Read Marilyn Krieger’s article Rat Poisons Aren’t Selective here.
Thank you for speaking up for California’s wildlife!
Camilla H. Fox
Founder & Executive Director