Committee hears testimony on rodenticide risks, wildlife exposure and non‑poison alternatives

At a hearing of the Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry Committee, agency staff and outside witnesses reviewed the risks of rodenticides, recent state restrictions and non‑poison alternatives. Steve (agency presenter) summarized rodent biology, use reporting and the state’s post‑2024 rules for restricted products while witnesses urged the committee to back tighter controls.

Why it matters: Witnesses said rodents pose disease and food‑safety threats to people and vehicles and can cause property and agricultural damage, while rodenticides can cause secondary poisoning of predators, pets and children. Katie Nolan, wild animals campaigner at In Defense of Animals, testified that “rodenticides don't only impact rodents” and cited Vermont Fish & Wildlife testing she said found near‑universal detection of rodenticides in tested fisher carcasses and 21 of 29 bobcats testing…