(by Carol Foss)
We are pleased to report that last week the NH Pesticide Control Board voted unanimously to direct agency staff to begin rule-making procedures that will add second generation anticoagulant rodenticides to New Hampshire’s list of restricted-use pesticides. This designation restricts purchase, possession, and application solely to certified, licensed applicators and requires logging of total amounts applied and sizes of treated areas on a daily basis and annual reporting to the Board. While we are disappointed that the rodenticide bills failed to pass in the legislature, implementing this rule will be an important step forward.
Division of Pesticides staff expect to have draft rules available for review at the Board’s August 17 meeting, at which time they will schedule a public hearing on the proposed rule. Following the Division’s public hearing, the rule will be forwarded to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR), which will hold another hearing on the final rule proposal and set a date for the rule to go into effect.
Once the rule is implemented there will still be plenty of work to do. Outreach and education to homeowners will be extremely important when the designation goes into effect. Encouraging homeowners to bring remaining SGARS to household hazardous waste collection days will be a major focus in 2027. There will be opportunities for local volunteers to assist with this effort. We also plan to work with licensed applicators to address SGAR use in Hillsborough County, where use is highest and discovery of raptors with secondary poisoning is most frequent.
We appreciate the concern and assistance of so many members and friends in addressing this important issue and look forward to your continued partnership.
Cover photo credit: Pine State Pest Solutions, Auburn, ME. (Norway Rat.)