The California State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials (“Committee”) is scheduled to meet on April 10 to consider adoption of AB 2422, which was introduced by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica). AB 2422 would expand the current prohibition of pesticides in the state to include “a pesticide containing any anticoagulant and would also prohibit the use of a pesticide containing an anticoagulant in the entire state.”
Since the California Department of Pesticide Regulation pulled second-generation anticoagulants from consumer shelves in July 2014, there has been no decrease in the rate of wildlife poisoning, as the pest control industry was permitted to continue using them—a giant loophole we argued against at the time.
Now Assemblymember Bloom, a staunch advocate of wildlife who successfully banned the use of second-generation anticoagulants in state parks, has introduced new legislation that would ban first- and second-generation anticoagulants, both of which are responsible for wildlife deaths and sub-lethal impacts affecting the ability of wildlife to thrive in their natural habitats. New scientific studies published during the past year by UC Davis, the California Academy of Sciences, and others show that 70 percent of Northern spotted owls have been contaminated with anticoagulant rodenticides. A separate 2018 study by UCLA and others found that these poisons are affecting genes that regulate bobcat immune systems.
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED to help ensure that AB 2422 is adopted, and that California transitions to alternative and more humane and responsible methods of rodent control.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Contact ESTM Committee Secretary and Assemblymembers by Phone or E-mail:
ESTM Secretary:
*Pia Estrada, Pia.Estrada@asm.ca.gov
Committee Members:
* Dr. Joaquin Arambula, Dem-31: 916-319-2031 or joaquin.arambula@asm.ca.gov
Staff: Arturl Barajas, arturl.barajas@asm.ca.gov
*Chris Holden, Dem-41: 916-319-2014 or chris.holden@asm.ca.gov
Staff: Elle Hoxworth, elle.hoxworth@asm.ca.gov
*Al Muratsuchi, Dem-66: 916-319-2066 or al.muratsuchi@asm.ca.gov
Staff: Brady McCarthy, brady.mccarthy@asm.ca.gov
*William Brough, Rep-73: 916-319-2073 or William.Brough@asm.ca.gov
*Phillip Chen, Rep-55: 916-319-2055 or phillip.chen@asm.ca.gov - Contact Assembly Members by Mail:
Mailing Address for all of the above:
California State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249 - Please join Project Coyote and other wildlife advocates by attending the Committee meeting and making your voice heard! The Committee is scheduled to vote on AB 2422 at their April 10 meeting at the State Capitol in Sacramento (meeting details listed below). You can find more information here, and listen to a live broadcast here(scroll down to April 10).
DETAILS OF COMMITTEE MEETING:
What: California State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials meeting
Where: California State Capitol, Room 444, 10th Street and L Street, Sacramento, CA
When: April 10, 2018, 1:30 pm
More info: California State Assembly Daily File (scroll down to April 10 – you will also find a link here to listen to the hearing)
- Another way you can help is to write letters to the editors (LTEs) of your local papers about this issue. See our tips for writing LTEs here.
TALKING POINTS for E-mails, Calls, and Letters:
- Californians are tired of seeing our valuable natural predators—hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions—sickened and wiped out by these indiscriminate and unnecessary poisons that have infiltrated California’s ecosystems.
- There are humane alternatives to these poisons, and there is no excuse to continue using them where they are devastating our wildlife.
- These poisons kill the very predators that keep our rodent populations in check naturally.
- The pest control industry has had long enough to act ethically, and only use these poisons when and where necessary; instead, the poisons are placed indiscriminately, with no or little regard for community or ecosystem health and safety.
- Rodent poisons sicken over 10,000 children every year.
- Rodenticides are one of the top ten pet toxins.
- We are depending on you, as our elected representatives, to do the right thing and pass AB 2422.
Thank you for speaking up for wildlife!