Parents urge Weston School Committee to ban second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides on school property

Kristen Barbieri, a parent and co-leader of the grassroots group Save Weston Wildlife, told the committee she and her co‑leaders are seeking a ban on second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides (referred to in the meeting as "escars") on school property.

"Escars or second generation anticoagulant rodenticides kill rodents by preventing their blood from clotting," Barbieri said in public comment, describing how affected prey species can then poison raptors and other wildlife that feed on them. Barbieri said rodenticide products appear in school integrated pest management disclosures and that town conservation areas and close‑by woods make the district's campuses vulnerable to secondary wildlife poisoning.

Nut graf: Barbieri said 21 Massachusetts towns have enacted bans on these products for municipal property and that state legislation has been introduced to ban escars statewide. She asked the committee, superintendent and facilities staff to engage with Save Weston Wildlife and the town to pursue safer pest-control approaches on school property.

Barbieri told the committee there are alternatives, including exclusion practices, snap traps, rodent contraceptives and carbon-dioxide cartridges, and recommended working with pest-control vendors to identify non-anticoagulant solutions.

The committee acknowledged the prior Select Board discussion on a townwide policy and noted the Select Board had asked schools to consider joining a townwide approach. Committee members requested staff coordination with town officials and directed administration to work with the group and facilities staff to explore alternatives.

Ending: Staff said they would coordinate with town health and facilities staff and return to the committee with options and legal/operational implications.