PAST EVENTS
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Newbury Annual Town Meeting: April 30, 2024
Article 4 restricting the use of SGARs on private property passed with overwhelming support! Now this article is a bill: HD.5157 that must be voted on by the Massachusetts state legislature. Will the town of Newbury support an initiative to the Select Board to submit a Home Rule Petition which permits the Town to adopt a bylaw which will restrict the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on privately owned properties, as has been enacted by Select Board on town-owned properties; whereas these rat poisons pose a danger not only to their intended targets but also to wildlife, pets, and humans; eliminating SGARs from our environment would help protect our ecosystem; such Home Rule Petition and later adopted bylaw would provide an educational component to help citizens keep their properties rodent-free and also provide an integrated pest management plan (IPM), overseen by the Board of Health, to implement rodent control; or will the town act on any action related thereto? (Inserted at the request of Kathleen Downey and 10 registered voters.) |
"Integrated Pest Management" April 6, 2024
Robert Linscott, Problem Control Agent and owner of North Shore Wildlife.
His business manages rodents (and other animals) WITHOUT poison.
Robert Linscott, Problem Control Agent and owner of North Shore Wildlife.
His business manages rodents (and other animals) WITHOUT poison.
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"Overview of SGARs" by Heather Packard of Mass Audubon February 6th, 2024
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A Few Supporters of Save Newbury Wildlife
January 23, 2024: Newbury Select Board Meeting.
The Select Board unanimously approved a policy to ban rodenticide use on municipal property as follows:
The Town of Newbury, through its [Select Board}, has adopted the following policy concerning the use of certain rodenticide products, widely known as Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides, or SGARs. SGARs are used to control rats and/or mice but have been clearly demonstrated to be harmful to non target predator species. This causes harm to our larger ecosystem, and the secondary poisoning of natural predators of the target pests can have a counterproductive long-term impact on rodent control efforts.
Whereas the Town of Newbury is committed to reducing unnecessary wildlife poisonings and potential harm to pets and children, this policy aims to specifically codify the application and use of SGARs at properties under the care and control of the Town of Newbury.
Section A: Applicability
This policy applies to all Town-owned property, including buildings, grounds, parks, open spaces, and the public right of way, and shall be adhered to by all employees of the Town of Newbury, as well as third party vendors and contractors providing services at Town-owned property.
Section B: Definitions
1. Rodenticides- A subclass of pesticides defined under the Massachusetts pesticide Control Act, General Laws Chapter 132B, as substances or mixtures of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents that are declared to be pests by the Massachusetts pesticide board.
2. SGAR- Acronym of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide, rodenticides developed to control rodents that are resistant to First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides and contain compounds that interfere with blood clotting and cause death from excessive bleeding while also remaining in animal tissues for an extended period of time. These products currently include, but are not limited to, those products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone.
Section C: Use of SGAR
The use of SGARs on Town-owned properties is hereby prohibited as of the effective date of this policy.
Section D: Emergency Waivers
Emergency waivers for the suse of SGARs on Town-owned property may be obtained from Health Department. Emergency waivers shall be restricted in time and location and shall only be granted after a well-documented request detailing a significant rodent infestation of public health consequence that has already exhausted all viable less-toxic integrated pest and rodent management practices. Any waivers granted under this section shall be published on the Town’s website.
Section E: Effective Date: adopted 1/23/24
The Select Board unanimously approved a policy to ban rodenticide use on municipal property as follows:
The Town of Newbury, through its [Select Board}, has adopted the following policy concerning the use of certain rodenticide products, widely known as Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides, or SGARs. SGARs are used to control rats and/or mice but have been clearly demonstrated to be harmful to non target predator species. This causes harm to our larger ecosystem, and the secondary poisoning of natural predators of the target pests can have a counterproductive long-term impact on rodent control efforts.
Whereas the Town of Newbury is committed to reducing unnecessary wildlife poisonings and potential harm to pets and children, this policy aims to specifically codify the application and use of SGARs at properties under the care and control of the Town of Newbury.
Section A: Applicability
This policy applies to all Town-owned property, including buildings, grounds, parks, open spaces, and the public right of way, and shall be adhered to by all employees of the Town of Newbury, as well as third party vendors and contractors providing services at Town-owned property.
Section B: Definitions
1. Rodenticides- A subclass of pesticides defined under the Massachusetts pesticide Control Act, General Laws Chapter 132B, as substances or mixtures of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents that are declared to be pests by the Massachusetts pesticide board.
2. SGAR- Acronym of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide, rodenticides developed to control rodents that are resistant to First Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides and contain compounds that interfere with blood clotting and cause death from excessive bleeding while also remaining in animal tissues for an extended period of time. These products currently include, but are not limited to, those products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone.
Section C: Use of SGAR
The use of SGARs on Town-owned properties is hereby prohibited as of the effective date of this policy.
Section D: Emergency Waivers
Emergency waivers for the suse of SGARs on Town-owned property may be obtained from Health Department. Emergency waivers shall be restricted in time and location and shall only be granted after a well-documented request detailing a significant rodent infestation of public health consequence that has already exhausted all viable less-toxic integrated pest and rodent management practices. Any waivers granted under this section shall be published on the Town’s website.
Section E: Effective Date: adopted 1/23/24
January 18, 2024:
COYOTE WATCH CANADA webinar: "Poison-Free Rodent Control" with dynamic guest speaker, Rebecca Dmytryk. Click on the photo to watch the recorded webinar.
COYOTE WATCH CANADA webinar: "Poison-Free Rodent Control" with dynamic guest speaker, Rebecca Dmytryk. Click on the photo to watch the recorded webinar.
