The Mystic River Mural Project revealed its new mural that highlights rodenticide impact on Mystic River watershed eagles. ~Photos by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

City Councilors Emily Hardt and John Link requested that Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances be amended to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides on city-owned property during the last City Council meeting on Thursday, August 27.

“A lot of people are concerned about banning rodenticides given that we have such a massive problem with rats in the city,” said Hardt.

Hardt says that the rodenticides are not working to control the rat population and that poison is not the answer.

When seeing rats, residents can report sightings to 311. Eliminating access to food and water and removing pet waste or windfall fruit are “common sense ways” of controlling the rodent population, she explained.

“We need to continue to try to work to control the rat population,” explained City Councilor John Link. He said natural predators like owls that hunt rats are being poisoned.

“It doesn’t make sense to continue down a path that we know is not working,” said Link.

Morgan Pinney, sponsored speaker from Save Somerville Wildlife, mournfully recalled a bald eagle named MK, who died from rodenticide poisoning in 2023.

A new mural on Mystic Avenue was recently revealed on August 22, which was created by 11 Somerville High School Students as a tribute to the “majestic and beloved” bald eagle.

Pinney says hawks, owls, and other wildlife have been “devastated” by rodenticides in the city.

The answer is helping “these would-be partners,” explained Pinney. She says a single owl is capable of consuming more than 1000 rats per year.

City Councilor Jesse Clingan explained that the rodenticides do “more harm than good.” He mentioned the inaugural DeRATification Week in late April that aims to help prevent and address rodent activity.

“We are not doing enough as a city,” said City Councilor Ben Wheeler. He mentioned absentee landlords who own rental properties and commercial dumpsters as potential hotspots for rat activity.

Following the discussion, Mayor Jake Wilson requested approval of a Home Rule Petition that would ban FGAR’s and SGAR’s on private property.

The administration hopes that joining the other communities in Massachusetts to regulate anticoagulant rodenticides citywide will push the state to follow suit. “Hopefully this moves the state to ban them,” said Mayor Wilson.

Both items were referred for recommendation to the Legislative Matters Committee.