Wildlife Victory as California Governor Signs Nation’s Toughest Law on Rat Poison Restriction

In a huge victory for wildlife researchers and conservationists alike, Governor Gavin Newsom of California has signed the nation’s strictest restrictions on rat poison. The Poison Free Wildlife Act or Assembly Bill 2552 signed on September 25^th, 2024, addresses the environmental impact of anticoagulant rodenticides, also known as rat poisons, which have devastated the state’s ecosystems. Once in effect, it will reduce wildlife fatalities caused by exposure to these toxic substances, one of the biggest threats to both endangered and common species. This milestone puts California at the forefront of environmental protection efforts against the widespread use of harmful poisons.

How Rat Poison Harms Wildlife

Griffith Park Mountain Lion P-22 euthanized and found with several rodent insecticides in his system. Source: National Park Service

Anticoagulant rodenticides (Ars) work by thinning the blood of rodents, causing internal bleeding and death. Unfortunately, the chemicals do not stay confined to their intended targets. Wildlife that preys on poisoned rodents, such as birds of prey, bobcats, mountain lions, and even domestic pets, suffer secondary poisoning, which can result in severe illness or death. A study from the University of California, Davis, highlighted how endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox and the California condor are increasingly at risk due to accidental exposure to these poisons.

According to a 2017 research by California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, 80% of fishers from the mountains of Northern California and the Southern Sierra Nevada, 70% of endangered Northern Spotted Owls and 40% of barred owls were found exposed to one or more anticoagulant rodenticide.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, approximately 90% of tested dead mountain lions and 80% of bobcats were found to have traces of rat poison in their systems. Species that feed on rats, such as owls and hawks, also face dwindling populations due to these toxins. The poison’s ripple effects threaten the entire food chain, disrupting ecological balances.

New Law and Its Provisions

Pacific fisher — Pacific Fisher; Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

The Poison-Free Wildlife Act, or Assembly Bill 2552 expands the limitations of Assembly bill 1788 which previously placed restrictions on the use of certain rodenticides in California’s residential and urban areas. The new law is now the strongest rodenticide regulation in the country. The bill sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity and The Solution and Animal Legal Defense Fund, will restrict the sale and use of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides chlorophacinone and warfarin.

The bill also prohibits the sale, and distribution of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) to the public and restricts their use in most settings.

Exceptions for Agriculture, Water Supplies and Public Health

First bald eagle death from rodenticide in Massachusetts in 2021. Source: MA.Gov

Exceptions apply in cases of agriculture, water supplies and public health. But in those situations, professionals must receive special permits to deploy rodenticides, ensuring tight oversight. These measures come after growing pressure from environmental organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and animal rights groups, who have long advocated for stronger regulations to curb the unintended death toll among wildlife.

By significantly limiting access to these poisons, wildlife advocates hope to reverse these disturbing trends. The reduction in SGARs, specifically, is expected to reduce wildlife deaths by thousands each year. Scientists also project that populations of predatory birds, mammals, and scavengers will begin to recover in the coming years, given the law’s implementation.

California’s Path Forward: A Model for Other States?

Governor Gavin Newsom signs wildlife bill 2552. Source: CA.Gov

Assembly Bill 2552 positions California as a leader in wildlife conservation setting a precedent for other states, particularly those dealing with similar wildlife poisoning issues. While urban areas across the nation have battled rodent infestations, the indiscriminate use of anticoagulants has led to an ongoing crisis in wildlife conservation.

The new law is a step toward a future where the safety of both wildlife and urban residents can coexist without the reliance on harmful poisons.

The Bill: California Poison Free Wildlife Act 2024