Pesticide poisons present a direct threat to all kinds of animals. Poisons spread throughout ecosystems, poisoning wild animals from mice to mountain lions, and even animal companions. Victims suffer a slow and agonizing death.Malibu City Planning Commission’s ban sets an important precedent for cities in the coastal regions of California, which can use a similar process to ban rodenticides, pesticides, herbicides, and the use of other chemicals. Agro-chemical businesses are currently operating under an exemption law, which renders cities unable to pass any bans on toxic chemicals.The City of Malibu will add the following provisions to its Local Coastal Program:

CO-58 The use of insecticides, herbicides, anti-coagulant rodenticides, or any toxic chemical substance which has the potential to significantly degrade biological resources in the Santa Monica Mountains, shall be prohibited, …

CO-59 Work towards a Poison-Free Santa Monica Mountains by exploring the feasibility of eliminating the use of rodenticides at the soonest practical date and identify and promote rodent control methods that do not involve poisons.

In Malibu and throughout the country, poison bait boxes are placed in shopping centers, restaurants, schools, and homeowners association complexes. These pesticides are a direct threat to the animals living in the area..

Last September, a mountain lion died after encountering multiple rodenticide poisons. Read about it that here

Watch this informative video by the National Parks Service

To start a campaign against rodenticides in your community, contact Poison Free Malibu’s Kian Schulman at poisonfreemalibu@gmail.com, or message Poison Free Malibu on Facebook.

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