Protect Medfield Wildlife and Pets
Summary: Stop the use of SGARs
Description
Have you heard of SGARs? They are Second Generation Anti-coagulant Rodenticides, and these poisons are used in rodent bait boxes throughout our state. SGARs work by preventing blood from clotting, causing the animals to die from blood loss over the course of several days. These poisons also bioaccumulate, meaning they do not get flushed out over time but rather stay in the animal’s system. These poisoned rodents become easy prey for their predators. Why are we concerned about them? These poisons are not only targeting rodents but also anything that eats the rodents, or anything that eats the bait.
Raptors (owls, hawks, eagles), carnivorous mammals, and yes – our pets, are at risk of dying because of these SGARs. This is like fighting a war with no allies; we are indirectly killing the predator that is helping to remove the rodents! There are better ways to go about protecting our town buildings, restaurants, and homes than by using these poisons. We can use Integrated Pest Management methods such as exclusion, better control of food waste, and, if necessary, different devices (ie. using CO2, electrocution, birth control).
SGAR use is common. According to the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources Pesticide Program, 96% of rodenticides applied by pest control companies in 2022 — that is, approximately 559,000 pounds — were SGARs. Vets at the New England Wildlife Center report treating hundreds of raptors, foxes, and coyotes for critical SGAR poisoning each year. And it’s not even just predators, but household pets too. MSPCA Angell Veterinary Hospital reports treating dozens of dogs, cats, and other household pets for SGAR poisoning each year. Although increased regulation has significantly reduced the number of humans poisoned by SGARs, nearly 200 people were exposed to SGARs between 2021 and 2023, almost half of whom were children under 6.
Please help protect our environment from these toxins, and rescue our wildlife and pets by speaking up against the use of SGAR (and first generation anti-coagulant) bait boxes. For further information …. read on.
Deep Dive
For more information on the effects from SGARs and on rescuing wildlife, check out the various links here.
Bald eagles in Arlington:
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/bald-eagle-poisoned-rat-dies-arlington-massachusetts-mk/
https://orionmagazine.org/article/mk-eagle-arlington-massachusetts-killed-2023/
Harvard Law and Animal Rights:
Raptor Rescue with Mass Audubon:
https://www.massaudubon.org/take-action/advocate/rescue-raptors
Raptors are the Solution (RATS):
https://raptorsarethesolution.org/
November 2020 study found 100% of Red-tailed Hawks tested at a MA wildlife clinic had SGARs in their organs.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33405327/
October 2023 study found at least one anticoagulant present in 98% of deceased fishers tested in Massachusetts.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37857759/
Steps to Take
1. Push for stopping the use of bait boxes containing SGARs (ie. chemicals are brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone) and first generation anti-coagulants.
2. Spread the word, and encourage others not to use bait boxes containing anti-coagulants.
3. Contact your local Public Works Dept. and Board of Health, find out what is being used to control pests at town buildings, schools, senior centers, and recreational areas.
4. Connect with your locally elected State officials to discuss what can be done to prohibit using SGARs.
5. If interested in joining the growing number of Climate Champions, contact Mass Audubon (https://www.massaudubon.org/our-work/climate-change/climate-and-nature-champions) to sign up and advocate for the natural world. Medfield is already listed and has a team started, please join us. 😊
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