11/16/2025
It’s now been one full year since Banner Pest Control stopped using SGARs (second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides).
Back in October 2024, I attended a powerful Zoom presentation by Jane Newhouse from Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. Jane works in wildlife rehabilitation and sees the devastating effects of secondary poisoning in animals every day. The test results she shared, showing hawks, owls, and foxes testing positive for the very poisons we were using, really hit home. That night, I reached out to her.
Our first conversation was interesting. We were both cautious. She was the passionate wildlife rehabber I’d seen all over Facebook, and I was the pest control guy who had relied on the very products she was trying to eliminate. But the more we talked, the more we realized we were trying to solve the same problem, just from different angles. Over the past 12 months, we’ve worked together to find that middle ground: helping people manage rodent problems without harming the wildlife that naturally keeps those populations in check.
Through this journey, I’ve also been lucky enough to connect with some incredible people from groups like Lowell Loves Wildlife, Save Arlington Wildlife, Save Chelmsford Wildlife, Operation Woburn Wildlife, Save North Andover Wildlife, Protect Andover Wildlife, and many more. Each has been a strong voice for protecting owls, hawks, and other predators from SGAR exposure.
Here’s where my perspective might be a bit unique. From the industry side, I get it. I understand why SGARs have been such a trusted tool for decades. But the world is changing.
More and more towns and homeowners are looking for rodent control and prevention without the use of anticoaugilant rodenticides. If a customer doesn’t want SGARs on their property, that’s their choice - and it’s our responsibility to provide safe, effective, and sustainable solutions. This past year we’ve enjoyed exploring and studying alternative solutions, and Banner Pest Control will continue to be an SGAR-free company.
