Owls, mountain lions, eagles, bobcats, and even river otters are dying slow, agonizing deaths in California.

A new report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows that toxic rat poisons are still being found in the bodies of nearly every mountain lion tested, along with a wide range of other wildlife.

These poisons do not just kill rats. They travel up the food chain, harming the very animals that help keep rodent populations in check. Hawks, foxes, owls, and cougars often consume poisoned prey and suffer from internal bleeding, liver failure, and death. The state’s own data show that 95 percent of mountain lions and 69 percent of all non-target wildlife tested had been exposed.

And now, state regulators are considering a proposal that would allow these deadly poisons to be used in over 100,000 new places across California—including parks, roadways, restaurants, and wildlife areas.

This is not just reckless, it is cruel. These poisons are already banned in many cases because of the damage they cause. Reversing course would only accelerate the suffering of animals we are already losing to habitat loss, cars, and climate change.

There are safer, proven alternatives for rodent control. Sealing entry points, using targeted traps, improving sanitation, and supporting natural predators like owls are all effective without poisoning the ecosystem.

We call on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to reject this proposal and restore stronger protections for wildlife. We also urge Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to ensure that California continues to lead the nation in science-based, humane approaches to pest control.

Our mountain lions, owls, and wild neighbors cannot speak for themselves. They rely on us to keep poisons out of their food chain.

Sign this petition to demand California stop expanding the use of deadly rat poisons and protect the wildlife we all cherish.
 
 
 Photo: BiologicalDiversity