Media Contacts:
Sarah Gorsline, Vermont State Representative, Project Coyote
P: 978-618-0561 E: sgorsline@projectcoyote.org
Bill will curb rodenticide use linked to child and pet poisonings while promoting proven, non-toxic pest control alternatives.
MONTPELIER, VT January 27, 2026 – To reduce the use of harmful toxic chemicals across Vermont, Representative Larry Satcowitz (Orange-Washington-Addison) introduced H.758, a bill that would prohibit the widespread sale, distribution, and use of rodenticides and promote effective alternative methods for controlling rodent populations.
Rodenticides are a broad category of chemicals used to poison rats, mice, gophers, moles, and other rodents. They cause painful illness and death in both the targeted wildlife and animals that eat them, including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, owls, and eagles. These carnivores play a critical role in maintaining healthy environments and a balance among diverse species, including by naturally limiting rodent populations.
“Vermonters agree on our shared love of a clean, healthy environment that supports families, pets, livestock, and the wildlife we all value,” said Sarah Gorsline, Vermont State Representative for Project Coyote. “This important bill intends to limit the harm caused by rodenticides, while allowing for limited exemptions, ensuring that effective and less harmful methods are used to address the causes of rodent issues.”
Children who accidentally eat rodenticide bait, which comes in bright colors, and pets who eat bait or poisoned rodents can suffer from vomiting, internal bleeding, and neurological disturbances. Nearly 70% of rodenticide exposures in humans in 2023 involved children under age six and rodenticides are one of the leading causes of pet poisoning nationwide.
H.758 allows state agencies to authorize exceptions in a verified public health, agricultural, or environmental emergency for which no other less harmful method of pest management, such as physical barriers to rodent entry or rodent fertility control, would be effective.
With passage of the bill, Vermont would join a group of states leading the way to restrict the use of rodenticides. Several others, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, have moved forward with similar legislative action, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposal in 2024 to phase out certain types of rodenticides.
“This bill will greatly restrict the use of these dangerous chemicals in our environment, preventing the poisoning of both Vermonters and the wildlife of our state,” said Representative Larry Satcowitz.
For further details about rodenticides, view our rodenticide factsheet and Coyote Friendly Communities: Deadly Rodenticides Video.
Project Coyote is a fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit. Project Coyote’s mission is to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife—particularly North America’s wild carnivores—through education, science, advocacy, and coalition building. Led by scientists, educators, and wildlife advocates, Project Coyote works to change policies and perceptions to protect wild carnivores and foster ethical, ecologically sound stewardship.
###
