Save Newbury Wildlife

05/26/2025

SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE NEWBURY SELECT BOARD TO STOP THE CONTINUED USE OF SGARS AT THE POLICE STATION!
We learned in December that the Town of Newbury had granted a 90 day waiver to the Police Station to allow the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) to control a rat infestation of the police vehicles. We agree that this indeed was a public health emergency. However, a second 90 day waiver was granted after they reported the rat infestation was under control and will be up for renewal in June. It is imperative that the town hire a pest control expert that is willing and able to use alternatives (there are many available) to prevent future victims of secondary posioning like this screech owl that died last year due to SGARs. If you live in Newbury and would like to add your name to our petition requesting that the Select Board follow it's own policy to avoid use of SGARs, please message us with your name and address.

05/25/2025

SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE NEWBURY SELECT BOARD TO STOP THE CONTINUED USE OF SGARS AT THE POLICE STATION!
We learned in January that the Town of Newbury had granted a 90 day waiver to the Police Station to allow the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) to control a rat infestation of the police vehicles. We agree that this indeed was a public health emergency. However, a second 90 day waiver was granted after they reported the rat infestation was under control and will be up for renewal in June. It is imperative that the town hire a pest control expert that is willing and able to use alternatives (there are many available) to prevent future victims of secondary posioning like this screech owl that died last year due to SGARs. If you live in Newbury and would like to add your name to our petition requesting that the Select Board follow it's own policy to avoid use of SGARs, please message us with your name and address.

05/21/2025

Thank you to Tailwinds: Raptor Education and Conservation for an excellent presentation! We saw a screech owl, barred owl, red-tail hawk and a Turkey Vulture named Gretta up close and personal.
If you would like to add you name to our letter in support of Bill H.965 that seeks to restrict the use of the anticoagulant rodenticides in Massachusetts that are killing these magnificent birds- message us with your name and address and we will add you to the letter. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H965
Letter can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dOLNipeefvm7Y1gaEDq4ezMjP1lfMsaY/view?usp=sharing

03/26/2025

Save North Andover Wildlife is having their kick-off meeting on March 31st at 6:30 pm at the Stevens Memorial Library. Guess who is the featured speaker?

03/21/2025

This hawk was one of the lucky ones! It is likely that most animals poisoned by anticoagulant rodenticides do not recover.

After four months recovering from being poisoned by rodenticide, a red-tailed hawk took off in flight.

02/05/2025

The city of Lowell, MA, has banned the use of SGARs on city-owned property! The eloquent Jane Newhouse of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue spoke before the Lowell city council this evening, February 4, and council members voted unanimously in support of this ban. Video and decree below.

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=649732347397738

02/04/2025

Research from Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine shows that the neurotoxic rodenticide bromethalin can bioaccumulate in hawks.

02/04/2025

Last night, the eco-tox report from the second dead barred owl discovered in someone's yard in Somerville came in. The poor owl has 3 different anticoagulants in her system, well into the lethal range of exposure (100 ppb begins lethal range--this poor girl had OVER QUADRUPLE that amount in her system, which explains why she had widespread internal bleeding inside her body). Again, this is the second owl in Somerville in just a few weeks' time we picked up and tested. Many more fall through the crack and bird flu will exacerbate losses from poisons.

Somerville has not yet taken action similar to many of their neighbors, to codify a ban or submit a Home Rule petition to the state. They need a nudge, from their constituents.

Want to do something about it?

TONIGHT, Tuesday, Feb. 4th, 6-7pm: Save Somerville Wildlife is having a meeting to discuss these development and how to get the city to step up on actions on these dangerous chemicals ahead of the city's Rodent Issues Committee meeting later this month.

Zoom link: [https://brown.zoom.us/j/7603189233?omn=93742524360]

01/17/2025

HD2508/HD1721/SD1447 - restricting the use of rodenticides

Our Newbury Home Rule bill (formerly H4741) has been revived in 2025: it is now HD2508:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD2508
An Act authorizing the town of Newbury to adopt a bylaw restricting the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides
Presenters: Representative Kristin E. Kassner, Senator Bruce E. Tarr

The previous bill (H4741) had been assigned to the committee for Environment and Natural Resources, and it's likely that HD2508 will be assigned to this same committee. As yet, no official announcement. When we hear, we will alert Save Newbury Wildlife supporters so that you can contact committee members and ask that they support bill HD2508.

More: please ask your respective Massachusetts state legislators to support the following legislative bills, HD1721 and SD1447.

State Representative Jim Hawkins has crafted a broad ranging bill that would restrict the use of all rodenticides, not only SGARs, in the state of Massachusetts.

Hawkins' (House) bill:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD1721
An Act Restricting the use of Rodenticides in the Environment
Presenter: State Representative Jim Hawkins
. . and the companion Senate bill:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD1447
An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment
Presenter: Senator Michael O. Moore

Thank you!

06/02/2024

It’s that time of the year!

05/31/2024

Saturday June 1st @ 1:00 Kensington Public Library!

05/31/2024

Greetings, Save Newbury Wildlife supporters!

We have the best news to report! Our Citizen's petition is now a bill: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/HD5157
An Act authorizing the town of Newbury to adopt a bylaw restricting the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Sponsored by Rep Kassner and Sen Tarr.

Thank you for all your help in reaching this level! We have more work ahead to get this bill passed, and to give the Mass State Legislature incentive to create statewide legislation, but we have the momentum. Cheers!

An Act amending the appointment and election restrictions on finance committee and capital planning members in the town of Newbury