Newtown Becomes First In CT To Ban Rodent Poison On Town Property

NEWTOWN, CT — Newtown officials have approved a policy banning the use of rodent poison on town-owned property, becoming the first municipality in Connecticut to take such action.

The policy was approved during an April 20 Board of Selectmen meeting and applies to the use of anticoagulant rodenticides on municipal land. The policy is intended to prevent secondary poisoning of wildlife.

Lisa Shirk, a member of the town’s Conservation Commission, said the policy has already drawn support from local departments and could influence nearby communities.

“Everybody we talked to was on board,” Shirk said, referring to town departments including parks and landscaping.

Shirk said surrounding towns — including Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford and Monroe — are now considering similar measures.

“It’s a little pebble with Newtown in the middle and this ripple going out there to our surrounding communities who are trying to do the same thing,” she said.

The policy is a town-level measure rather than an ordinance, meaning it applies to municipal operations but does not regulate private use.

Shirk said she hopes residents will consider alternative pest control methods that protect wildlife.