Victory! This alert made a difference for animals!

Anticoagulant rodenticides are still taking a devastating toll on California's wild animals, from rats and mice to mountain lions and foxes to birds of prey. When unsuspecting rodents ingest these awful poisons, they suffer immensely and also pass the toxins up the food chain, harming the predators who consume them. These toxins cruelly kill not only their intended targets but also endanger other wild animals, animal companions, and humans. AB 2552 will help put an end to this harmful cycle, and your voice can help ensure it becomes law.

After significant progress, we're now at the final stage in the fight to protect California's wild animals from deadly rodenticides. The Poison-Free Wildlife Act (AB 2552) has passed the state legislature and is now awaiting Gov. Newsom's signature. This groundbreaking bill will expand protections for wild animals by adding the remaining first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs), chlorophacinone and warfarin, to the state's existing moratorium. Now is the time to act—urge the governor to sign this critical legislation into law!

In 2020, the California state legislature passed AB 1788 which established the initial moratorium on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). It then passed AB 1322, which added diphacinone to the existing list of banned rodenticides at the start of 2024. Now, AB 2552 will take the existing rodenticide ban in California a step further. The bill would add protections against the use of poisons in areas designated as wildlife habitats as well as allow for better enforcement to prevent the use and sale of these poisons.

Famous animal ambassadors like Flaco, New York City's Eurasian eagle owl, and California's own mountain lion P-22, were found with rodenticide in their systems, contributing to both of these beloved animals' deaths. Rodenticides have also sadly found their way into animal companions and human children as well.

Contact Gov. Newsom today and urge him to sign AB 2552 to protect California's wild animals and create a safer environment for all.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Sign AB2552 to Protect Wildlife From Rodenticides

I am writing to you as a resident of California to ask that you please sign AB 2552 into law to add chlorophacinone and warfarin to the existing moratorium on rodenticides, allow for better enforcement to prevent the use and sale of these poisons, and provide additional protections for areas designated as wildlife habitat. 

Studies have shown that rodenticides are appearing in California’s predators, including raptors, foxes, and bobcats, and they also appeared in our beloved mountain lion P-22. Rodenticides are also a risk to children and animal companions.

You may have heard from opponents of this bill that passing this will be bad for public health, but the bill already has an exemption for both rodenticide use for public health and for agricultural purposes. Additionally, there are many other effective methods of managing rodent populations including sanitation, exclusion methods, and even fertility control. 

In conclusion, please sign AB 2552 into law to protect California’s wildlife and ecosystems for years to come.

Sincerely,

Signed

Victory! This alert made a difference for animals!