Summary: Stony Brook university is currently using Rat Poison Bait Boxes on campus as a “pest control method”. The presence of rat poison on our campus has the ability to poison our native bird species at SBU such as red tailed hawks, barn and horned owls, to name a few. This petition is seeking prompt action towards the complete removal of these poisons from our campus, to protect our native ecosystem.

Stony Brook University has set out Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide (SGAR) Bait Boxes around several residential buildings on campus. These bait boxes contain Bell Labs FINAL Rodent Bait Poison packs, in which the active ingredient is Brodifacoum 0.005%.  Brodifacoum is a SGAR with its mode of action being the inhibition of vitamin K recycling (Pomais, n.d.). This results in disrupted blood clotting, widespread hemorrhaging, and a slow painful death and organ failure occurs for any animal that ingests it, not just rodents (Pomais, n.d.). One of the most common victims of secondary poisoning are rodent-eating birds of prey (Lamb, Manner, & Newton, 2011).

Unlike first generation rodenticides, which required rodents to ingest large amounts of the poison to receive a fatal dose, SGAR's are designed to be much more potent, minimizing the amount of feed needed before fatal ingestion occurs (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). But, rodents don't immediately die, it can take anywhere from days up to a week for a rodent to die (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, n.d.). When this animal dies, it is then preyed upon by a predator, a bird of prey, taking advantage of an easy meal. Very shortly, secondary poisoning occurs in these animals, often leading to a direct rodenticide-caused death, or a rodenticide-induced debilitated state.

In places where SGAR's are present, it isn't long before the poison makes its way up the food chain from the "target species". SGAR bait boxes are present all around NYC. The impact is clearly seen by Wildlife Rehabilitators. NYC's only wildlife hospital admits dozens of injured and debilitated birds of prey annually, all of which are treated for rodenticide on intake, whether or not they show symptoms (most often do) due to the risk of exposure. These raptors come in with abnormal neurological symptoms, uncontrollable external and internal hemorrhaging, and oftentimes extremely debilitated. This example is occurring very close to Stony Brook, and should be an urgent warning to remove these toxins before it's too late.

Stony Brook University, requires many Environmental majors to read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, the book that started the environmental movement. In this book, Carson warns the public about the dangers of DDT, a commonly used pesticide in the 20th century. She explains how its presence in the environment is the reason why birds of prey that are commonly found on LI today, were almost pushed to extinction. With Stony Brook University being home to many beautiful predatory birds, there is an urgent need for the prompt removal of these Rodenticide Bait Boxes off campus, to ensure its pest control methods echo the lessons that SBU teaches its students.

By signing this petition, you call on the Environmental Health and Safety department at Stony Brook University to enact urgent measures to remove the rat poison usage on campus.Let's ensure that our actions do not poison the intricate web of life in our environment. Sign this petition now and contribute to preserving our native ecosystem.