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Anticoagulant rat and mouse poisons (rodenticides, known as ARs) are having a devastating impact on our local wildlife, including those species protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). We have confirmed reports for six Bald Eagles, a MESA listed species, that have died from rodenticide toxicosis since 2021 (5 from AR poisoning) including the two most recent bald eagle deaths on March 12-13, 2026 in Arlington and Natick. For the complete reports, please see Bald Eagle Test Results Document. 

Under MESA’s implementing regulations, state agencies must evaluate the impacts of their actions on MESA-protected species and “use all practicable means and measures to avoid or minimize damage to affected species or their habitats.”  We understand that if the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Secretary Tepper) determines that a state action may damage a state listed species or their habitats, she can initiate review of the action and notify MDAR of its obligation to engage in consultation with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and to “take all practicable means and measures to modify” its actions to avoid damaging protected species.

Because anticoagulant rodenticides are sickening and killing members of MESA-listed species, MDAR’s continued registration of anticoagulant rodenticides poses a serious risk of “damaging” state-listed species. 

We respectfully request that the Secretary meet with members of Massachusetts advocacy groups and the Massachusetts wildlife rehabilitation community to discuss this issue, their concerns, any actions that the office has taken, and a plan going forward.  Massachusetts residents, wildlife advocates, and environmental advocates would like to know if the EOEEA has initiated a review of MDAR’s registration of anticoagulant rodenticides and whether EOEEA has notified MDAR that their actions are damaging state listed species and that they need to engage with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.

We kindly ask you to support this important cause by signing this petition asking for Secretary Tepper to fulfill our request for a meeting to discuss the effects of anticoagulant rodenticides on MESA listed species.

Marci Cemenska, Joanne Dawson, Jim Joyce, and Patty Joyce 

Photo Credit: Jim Joyce