Lowell council bans second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on city property

The Lowell City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit the use of second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on city‑owned property and to require integrated pest‑management practices and limited emergency waivers.

The ordinance, which amends chapter 104 of the city code by adding Article 4 on rodents, passed on a roll call vote of 11–0 after about an hour of public comment from wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, conservation groups and residents.

Supporters told the council that SGARs — commonly found in bait boxes outside buildings — cause lethal secondary poisoning in predators and scavengers. "I won't even get into what it's like to watch an animal die from this. It's awful," said Jane Newhouse of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, who described treating foxes and other wildlife for…