"I'm so proud that California is leading the way in protecting wildlife from these harmful and unnecessary poisons," said J.P. Rose, urban wildlands policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which sponsored AB 2552. "I think we can all agree that unintentionally poisoning native wildlife is wrong."
A 2023 California Department of Fish and Wildlife report found that roughly 88% of raptors and 90% of pumas tested had been exposed to the poisons. Birds of prey - and American kestrels in particular - have been significantly harmed by chlorophacinone, one of two poisons targeted in the law, according to Lisa Owens Viani, director of Raptors Are the Solution, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Megan J. Provost, president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, a trade association for the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry, which opposed the bill, pointed to its potential harm to humans. "Effective rodenticide products are necessary for protecting the health and safety of people, structures and businesses - including those responsible for food safety - from the diseases and property damage caused by rodents."
#wildlife-protection #rat-poison-legislation #california-law #environmental-advocacy #public-health-concerns
Collection
[
|
...
]