Rescue Plymouth Wildlife Public Kick-off Meeting

Rescue Plymouth Wildlife (RPW) is a coalition of community members and organizations committed to making Plymouth a healthier community for wildlife and people. Our priority is to raise awareness concerning the harmful impact of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on local wildlife.
Licensed pest management professionals use SGARs to treat rat infestation in heavily developed areas. However, the poisons act slowly, killing the animal after several days. In its weakened state, the rat can become easy prey for hawks, owls, and other wildlife. As predators consume more poisoned rats and deliver them to their young, they can accumulate lethal levels of these poisons.
Unfortunately, scenarios like the one described above have already played out in communities across the Commonwealth. In 2023, Arlington lost the first female bald eagle to nest in the community for over 60 years due to SGAR exposure. While the impacts of SGARs on wildlife are hard to quantify, wildlife rehabilitators are sounding the alarm based on the sheer number of cases they’re seeing. For example, Zak Mertz, CEO of New England Wildlife Centers, shared that “close to 100% of hawks tested in Massachusetts have some level of exposure to SGARs.”
The EPA and others have been aware of the dangers these poisons present for quite a while. In 2015, the Agency banned the sale of SGARs to consumers. However, they are legally and widely used by licensed pest management professionals on public and private property throughout Massachusetts. Awareness precedes action.
Our ultimate goal is to work with the Town to develop a sustainable solution to the rodenticide issue. To do that, we need your help! Join our event to learn how you can help us effect change that will preserve Plymouth’s natural heritage for future generations. Please Register Here.