Bill Regulating Super-Toxic Rodenticides Advances Out Of California Assembly

Contact: media@aldf.org

Sacramento, CA – Today the California Ecosystems Protection Act (AB 1788), passed out of the California Assembly. Authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom and sponsored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and a coalition of wildlife protection groups, the bill bans second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) except for agricultural use or by special permit. AB 1788 also prohibits less potent, but still dangerous, first generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) on state-owned lands.

Rodenticides are poisoning California’s native wildlife. Rats who consume these poisons are in turn consumed by other wildlife, resulting in secondary poisoning and contamination of the food chain. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s 2018 analysis of 11 wildlife studies determined super-toxic rodenticides are poisoning a wide range of animals including mountain lions, bobcats, Pacific fishers, barred owls, and endangered San Joaquin kit foxes.

P-47, the famous mountain lion studied by researchers since 4 weeks old, was found dead last month in the central Santa Monica Mountains. Necropsy results indicate he likely died from rat poison. Testing on his liver determined P-47 was exposed to six different anticoagulant rodenticide compounds.

Though California banned consumer use of SGARs in 2014, wildlife poisoning has continued. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s database of mountain lion deaths reveals anticoagulant rodenticides were found in the livers of 63 out of 68 deceased mountain lions between 2015 and 2016.

“These dangerous poisons are killing California’s iconic wildlife,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells, sponsor of the legislation. “Safer and less expensive options exist that don’t jeopardize our wild animals, as well as children and companion animals who inadvertently consume super-toxic rodenticides. I applaud the California Assembly for passing AB 1788.”

The bill now moves to the California Senate for consideration.