Educate yourself

Some good sources of information include Mass Audubon's Rescue Raptor program and their Poison-Free Pest Control webpage. Raptors are the Solution also has some good material on their site.

 

The Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) to avoid are:

  • Brodifacoum
  • Bromadialone
  • Difethialone
  • Difenacoum

 

First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (FGARs) are used less often, but should also be avoided:

  • Chlorophacinone
  • Diphacinone 
  • Warfarin

Support legislation to ban SGARs in Massachusetts

Please write or call Senator Bruce Tarr and State Representative Kristin Kassner (precinct 1) or Sally Kerans (precinct 2) asking them to support the two bills which would ban SGAR use in Massachusetts - SD.1447 and HD.1721.

 

Join the "Baitbox Brigade"

Bait boxes are plastic boxes (usually black) which you often see along the foundation of buildings used by commercial businesses. Inside the box, they typically contain a number of blue blocks of bait containing SGARs. The boxes have an opening for rodents to come and go and they are supposed to be secure so other animals (like foxes, coyotes, squirrels and pets) cannot get to the bait, but this doesn't always work as advertised.

 

The "Bait Box Brigade" is a group of volunteers who use an app on their phone to document the location of baitboxes in their community as well as any sick or dead animals they happen to find nearby. Reports can then be uploaded to a central database where they can be used to document the extent of SGAR usage and raise public awareness of the problem.

 

Promote alternative rodent control methods

 

If you use a pest control company for dealing with mice or rats in your home, please call them and tell them you want an alternative to SGARs. Unfortunately, SGARs are the default for most rodent control today. You can also switch to a company that does not use poisons (see Links).

 

Talk with your neighbors, family, and friends about this issue. More public education is essential.

 

Volunteer with Save Topsfield Wildlife

 

Help us to spread the word! Among other projects, we will be having tables at various Topsfield events like Earth Day and the Strawberry Festival and we can certainly use your help taking a shift. Use the "Contact" form to let us know you are interested.