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Council endorses state bill to restrict older rodenticides, cites wildlife risks
Summary
The Providence City Council endorsed a resolution supporting House Bill H5704 to restrict certain rodenticides, citing risks to raptors and unintended effects that can worsen rodent populations.
The Providence City Council unanimously advanced a resolution endorsing General Assembly House Bill H5704, which would restrict the use of certain older classes of rodenticides that supporters say poison non-target wildlife.
Councilwoman Underwater, speaking in favor, thanked the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and state Representative Kislak for advancing the issue. “These rodenticides… are both really dangerous for things outside of just rodents,” she said, arguing that predators such as birds of prey that eat poisoned rodents suffer secondary poisoning and that killing predators can make rat problems worse.
Underwater said the bill had hearings in both the House and Senate and urged colleagues to support the city’s formal endorsement. The council passed items covering the package on a voice vote and recorded the referral as noted.
The resolution asks the state legislature to consider the bill; any change to pesticide regulation would be enacted at the state level.
