A smarter, safer approach to rat control

Last week, a story in the Johnston Sun Rise entitled “Rats!” highlighted the growing rodent problem in many of our local cities and towns, along with some of the alternative control measures under consideration. Johnston, Cranston and Warwick are taking thoughtful and proven approaches by implementing a strategy known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This strategy has long been recognized as the gold standard for managing pest populations, including rats.

Integrated Pest Management implements a variety of measures, such as proper trash management, habitat modification and biological controls before resorting to chemical options. The heavy reliance on poison bait boxes – such as the 400 deployed in Johnston – may worsen the problem, as IPM guidelines suggest that natural predators, such as birds of prey, can remove an abundance of rodents from communities and are much safer and more effective than poisons.

Raptors – including owls, hawks and eagles – can each consume thousands of rodents each year. Unfortunately, the widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides in bait boxes threatens these vital predators. These poisons take five to ten days to kill rats, during which time the rodents become easy prey. When poisoned rats are consumed by raptors, the toxins also accumulate in their bodies, often resulting in the deaths of these owls, hawks and eagles. An Eastern screech-owl, for example, may eat over 1,000 rodents annually, but ingesting just one or two poisoned rats can be fatal.

The risks extend beyond wildlife. Research shows that anticoagulant rodenticides contaminate waterways and infiltrate the food chain. Alarmingly, they also pose a serious risk to children. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, thousands of young children require treatment for rodenticide poisoning each year. In 2023, 70% of reported exposures involved children under the age of 6.

Given the significant dangers to wildlife, public health and the environment, California banned the most toxic anticoagulant rodenticides in 2021. Since then, rodent complaints in cities across California have steadily declined, reaching a 10-year low. The evidence is clear: poison bans work.

With Rhode Island facing a growing rodent crisis, it is time for similar action. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island has made banning these harmful poisons a top legislative priority. Sen. Melissa Murray and
Rep. Rebecca Kislak have introduced legislation (S651 / H5704) that would prohibit the use of the most dangerous rodenticides while providing exemptions for agriculture and true public health – consistent with IPM’s philosophy of using poisons only as a last resort.

We commend Johnston, Cranston and Warwick for their commitment to finding more effective, sustainable solutions for rat control. We urge all Rhode Island communities to embrace Integrated Pest Management and support the health of natural predators, such as eagles, hawks and owls, that are part of the solution.

Jeffrey C. Hall is executive director of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island