If you’ve been following SNOWstorm for a while you doubtless know that our necropsy and toxicology research has shown a widespread and growing threat to snowy owls from second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides (SGARs), which threaten an enormous array of wild raptors and mammalian predators (as well as pets and children). We’ve seen the percentage of snowy owls we’ve necropsied  with what is generally believed to be potentially lethal levels of SGARs in their liver tissue rise from near zero in 2013-14 to 56 percent in 2022, the last year for which we have good data before avian influenza made it difficult to safely necropsy owls.

The Massachusetts Senate is set to vote Wednesday, April 15, on a bill to phase out SGARs in the state. I’m posting information below from the Massachusetts Audubon Society with a link allowing Massachusetts residents to contact their state senators and urge the passage of the legislation. (Full disclosure: My wife is a senior staffer with Mass Audubon, but this advocacy work is not under her supervision.)

If you’re not a Massachusetts resident, it’s probably not effective for you to weigh in — politicians listen to their constituents. But rodenticides are a problem for wildlife everywhere, so if you’re concerned, look into whether conservation groups in your state or province are pursuing similar action.

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MA Residents, Take Action! https://bit.ly/UrgentActionToday

This Wednesday, April 15, the MA State Senate will vote on whether to adopt a proposal to phase out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that are poisoning thousands of wildlife and pets in Massachusetts every year.

An amendment to the Mass Ready Act is pending, and if it’s adopted, it will help ensure that our state phases out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides.

Please contact your legislators today! We need them to hear from as many supporters as possible before they vote this Wednesday.  Let’s get this amendment passed to protect our wildlife and pets!