Winchester bans anticoagulant rodenticides on town property; bylaw allows health waivers

Winchester Town Meeting unanimously adopted a bylaw prohibiting the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) on town‑owned property, with an emergency waiver provision for situations in which the Board of Health determines an immediate public‑health threat.

Proponent Kathy Fallon framed the measure as a wildlife and public‑health protection: she cited confirmed AR exposure in a local bald eagle (referred to as “Faye”), noting laboratory results found three anticoagulant compounds in the bird’s liver. Fallon described non‑poison alternatives and integrated pest management strategies — exclusion, sanitation, mechanical trapping, targeted use of non‑bioaccumulative alternatives such as vitamin D3‑based products as last resort — and urged codifying the ban to ensure permanence and public notice.

The Board of Health and Conservation Commission both supported the bylaw; the Board of Health emphasized a built‑in waiver authority for emergency infestations and the department’s intent to transition town operations off ARs. Committee on Government Regulations reviewed legal constraints and noted state pesticide regulation is generally preemptive, but municipal bylaws can limit use on town‑owned property. Committee members voted in favor (7–1) and the Select Board and Board of Health both recommended favorable action.

The motion passed unanimously. The bylaw allows the town to seek health‑department waivers in exceptional circumstances and instructs departments to pursue IPM measures and alternatives in ordinary operations.

Next steps: DPW and the Board of Health will implement the new procedure, update town procurement and contracts to reflect the ban, and rely on the waiver procedure only if an active infestation presents a demonstrable health risk.