New Proposed Rodenticide Rules Could Change How Southeast Colorado Fights Pests

~Anne Boswell

Right now, it's just a bill, but that's how laws start out.

The Colorado Senate has introduced a bill and passed it through committee and a third reading on limiting how you can protect your property against rodents.

Senate Bill 26-062 would make it illegal to use mouse and rat poisons.

It would also make it a crime to distribute such products unless there was a public health emergency declared.

Sponsors of the legislation state that the bill protects children and pets. They added that it would also protect predators like fox, coyotes and hawks who eat mice from being poisoned.

While the bill was narrowed in committee making changes to be less restrictive, Senator Rod Pelton stood on the bill's second reading to say, it wasn't enough.

"At the end of the day it's still not a good bill."

Republican Senators tried to make the bill better for farmers and ranchers by adding amendments to the bill.

One attempt was one to exempt small farms and ranches from having to get a permit to use the rodenticides, another was to cap the cost of permitting to just one dollar to prevent collecting excess fees.

Senator Marc Catlin said they want to place fewer regulatory burdens on small farms.

Democrat State Senator and the bill's sponsor, Lisa Cutter urged a no vote on the amendment but thanks Republican lawmakers for their creativity.

Senator Byron Pelton doubled down with arguments that mice get into feed and make it unsafe for consumption. He said on his farm he uses rodenticides to protect the food he produces. Pelton added that mice leave feces wherever they go and they want to make sure the food they produce is safe from disease.

Senator Rod Pelton added that he is fighting for the all of those who don't have a special permit to use the product. He said this bill will affect those in the city too.

"It's burdensome for some producers and some home owners."

Senator Marc Catlin argued he feels the lack of impact studies on predators should be noted.

"It seems to me that we are always told that we're in the process of damaging or destroying the environment that we all love here in the state of Colorado."

"This is not a good bill for Agriculture." Catlin finished.

The amendments mentioned above were not passed. The bill passed on a third reading in the Senate which means it now moves to the House. In the House it will need to go through three readings and be heard in committee. It's not too late to testify. You can sign up to speak out on the bill in person in Denver or virtually.

Here's the link to sign up, the bill's number is SB26-062. https://sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony/sign-up-to-testify/step-1

NOTE:

A single breeding pair of mice can produce approximately 50 to 60 offspring per year, with some estimates reaching up to 80, due to rapid reproduction cycles. Females can have 5 to 10 litters annually, with 5–12 pups per litter. Under ideal conditions, including offspring breeding, a single pair can theoretically lead to over 5,000 mice in one year. (Madsen Pest Management)

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