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Conservation commission policy to limit rodenticides recommended for Board of Health support
Summary
The Board reviewed a draft Conservation Commission policy to limit second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides on town property, agreed to remove the word 'unnecessary' from a whereas clause, and supported keeping rodenticides as a last resort with a waiver process.
Nancy Rubio, the Conservation Administrator, told the Board the Conservation Commission drafted a policy modeled on Cambridge to reduce secondary poisoning of wildlife by second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on town property. Rubio said Duxbury already prioritizes nonchemical methods (traps) and follows integrated pest management in schools and town facilities; rodenticides would be used only when there is a significant health or public‑safety concern and when other measures have failed.
Board members debated wording in the draft policy, objecting to a clause that said the town is "committed to reducing unnecessary wildlife poisoning," which some members said implied there might be "necessary" poisoning. Rubio agreed to remove the word "unnecessary" and to clarify the waiver process: any use of SGARs on town property would require a waiver from the Board of Health and documentation that nonchemical controls had been attempted. The ConCom and Board of Health will jointly present the edited policy to the Select Board and prepare educational materials hosted on town webpages.
