Williamstown Steps Closer to Rat-Poison Ban as Local and State Efforts Align

In recent months, the conversation around rodent control in Williamstown has shifted from quiet concern to coordinated action. What began as a local inquiry into the use of toxic rodenticides, raised in the April 28th Select Board meeting https://civicscorner.org/001-select-board-meeting-april-28-2025/, has grown into a town-wide effort, with Williamstown joining Berkshire Voters for Animals, and other towns and cities across the state taking action to eliminate second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs)—chemicals known to harm owls, hawks, and other wildlife that feed on poisoned rodents.

Resident Leslie Gura, CPA, has been leading that charge. Acting on a request from the Select Board, she met with leaders of facilities not directly overseen by the Town Manager, (Milne Public Library and the Mount Greylock Regional School District). Both, along with the Williamstown Fire District, have now committed to avoiding SGARs in their pest management practices.

The Town Manager’s office consulted with other Massachusetts communities that have enacted similar bans to learn from their experience and avoid unintended consequences. An operational policy for the town-owned properties’ SGAR ban is imminent.  The next step—a Home Rule citizens’ petition that would formalize a local restriction on SGAR use for all businesses and citizens in Williamstown (except in emergency situations) will be drafted and submitted for approval at the annual Town Meeting.  If passed, the petition will be sent to our local Representative or Senator to be filed as a bill. 

Beyond Williamstown, Gura advocated for the issue on Beacon Hill. She attended a lobby day at the State House and submitted written testimony to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.  The committee’s hearing on HB 965, a bill that would ban the use of SGARs state-wide was held on October 27.  70 individuals and organizations testified, only two spoke against a statewide ban. 

In addition to the SGAR bill, 12 municipalities’ home rule petitions were discussed, and 18 other municipalities testified on behalf of the state-wide ban.