To the editor:
We are writing in support of Article 29 to restrict the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in Andover.
ARs are killing off nature’s own pest control. A bait box is placed outside a property with something tasty for a rodent; however, the poisoned rodent doesn’t die right away. It walks off and gets eaten by a predator, which could be an eagle, hawk, fox, owl, or pet. The predator becomes very sick and will most likely die without extensive treatment.
We had a healthy, active fox family in our yard with 10 kits. The fox kits loved running, pouncing, and wrestling; each of the kits was being trained to hunt over 1,000 rodents per year. That one fox family may have grown up to eliminate 10,000 rodents per year.
Two years later, a fox family returned; however, this time, the foxes were listless. The parents’ eyes were shut, and patches of fur were missing. Within a few days, the family died. Their symptoms of mange were consistent with rodenticide poisoning.
There are safe and effective alternatives to ARs, and we have personally used them. It is frustrating to see open garbage spilling out, with a bait box just a few feet away. There is no poison in the world that is going to get rid of rodents unless trash is contained.
A Home Rule Petition would allow Andover to work collaboratively to create a thoughtful, practical, and effective bylaw to be developed and voted on in the future.
We ask for a “YES” vote on Article 29 to move forward in making Andover safer for all.
Carol and Ed Van Doren
Andover