Advocating for Safer Rodent Control in the Andovers

Article by:
Donna Cooper – Protect Andover Wildlife
Carol Disney – Save North Andover Wildlife

Since you are reading the Protect Andover Wildlife we presume you are a fan of open spaces and the natural species that inhabit them.  Citizens of Andover and North Andover are seeking local by-law changes that would increase the health of natural spaces by restricting the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides in our towns.  We hope that you will read this article, do your own research, and vote to limit toxic rodenticides at the Town Meetings of Andover and North Andover this spring.

Understanding Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) and Their Impact

SGARs are the most recent generation of rodenticides used to manage rat and rodent populations. These poisons are highly lethal, but their potency comes with significant risks. When rodents consume SGARs, the toxins do not act immediately; instead, they prevent the rodent’s blood from clotting. This allows the poisoned rodent to leave the premises, but as it becomes progressively more sick it becomes easy prey for natural predators like foxes, hawks, and even household pets. Unfortunately, these non-target victims also suffer from the poison, resulting in painful and nearly always fatal injuries. Ironically, the animals most harmed by SGARs are those that would help control rodent populations.

Local and State Efforts to Restrict SGAR Use

Currently the towns of Andover and North Andover are not using SGARs on municipal properties. However, state regulations prevent the towns from restricting SGAR use on private commercial or residential properties if they are installed by licensed pesticide professionals. This means that individuals and businesses in Andover and North Andover may still hire pest control companies to deploy SGARs. Typically, these poisons are placed in black boxes near businesses, restaurants, dumpsters, and homes.

Massachusetts lawmakers are currently considering Senate Bill #965 and House Bill #2721, both of which propose a statewide restriction on SGARs. This legislation has failed in the past. Until these bills become law, Protect Andover Wildlife (PAW) and Save North Andover Wildlife (SNAW) are working to further restrict SGAR use in our towns. Our immediate goal is to pass Home Rule petitions at our 2026 Town Meetings, seeking exemptions from state restrictions and allowing our towns to implement our own, stricter, restrictions on SGARs. We join over 100 other Massachusetts towns in this initiative - including Concord, Arlington, Lexington, Newbury, Newton, and Plymouth - striving to make our community safer for humans and wildlife alike.

Promoting Safer Alternatives to SGARs

There is a growing understanding among Massachusetts citizens that safer, more effective rodent control methods exist. One valuable source of information is Mass Audubon’s “A Campaign to Rescue Raptors,” which highlights the risks of SGARs and supports community efforts like ours. Protect Andover Wildlife and Save North Andover Wildlife are committed to educating the public about the unintended harm caused by SGARs—especially to the very wildlife that naturally control rodent populations.

Non-toxic Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Instead of relying on poisons, we advocate for non-poison Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. This multi-step approach includes:

1. Excluding rodents by sealing all potential access points to food sources, to prevent rats from entering buildings through even very small openings.

2. Eliminating outdoor food sources, such as garbage or pet food, by securely covering trash cans and removing attractants.

3. Using targeted methods for remaining rodents, including indoor snap traps, gassing burrows, and rodent contraceptive programs—as implemented in communities like Lowell and Newton.

4. Allowing natural predators, such as hawks and owls, to help maintain rodent populations.

5. IPM and SGARs are cost comparative.

Check Into Protect Andover Wildlife and Save North Andover
Wildlife

Protect Andover Wildlife and Save North Andover Wildlife are groups of concerned residents dedicated to addressing the secondary effects of using Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) for rodent control. As awareness of the dangers posed by SGARs grows, many Massachusetts towns have initiated efforts to ban their local use. Our group is part of this broader movement, aiming to protect Andover’s people, pets, and wildlife.  Check out both groups’ Facebook and website locations:

Save Andover Wildlife website and Facebook page

Protect North Andover Wildlife website and Facebook page

Video from A Campaign to Rescue Raptors