HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 03-17-2026 Oral_Late CommunicationsCC 3-17-2026
Oral
Communications
Written Comments
From:Ying Dillaha
To:City Council; Tina Kapoor; City Clerk; Luke Connolly; Benjamin Fu; Chad Mosley
Subject:No to rat poison use
Date:Tuesday, March 17, 2026 5:57:14 PM
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Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for the upcoming city
council meeting.
==
Good evening everyone,
I want to talk about something small that causes enormous harm—rat
poison.
At first glance, it seems like a simple solution. You have a pest problem,
you put out poison, and the rats disappear. Problem solved, right?
But what actually happens is far more disturbing—and far more
dangerous.
Most rat poisons used today are what’s called second-generation
anticoagulant rodenticides. These are designed to be extremely potent.
They don’t kill instantly. Instead, they cause internal bleeding. The
animal slowly hemorrhages from the inside. It becomes weak,
disoriented, and thirsty. It can take days to die.
Days.
That poisoned rat doesn’t just disappear—it becomes easy prey.
Owls, hawks, foxes, snakes—even our pets—hunt weakened rodents.
But when they eat that poisoned rat, the toxin transfers into their bodies.
And the same slow, gruesome death begins again.
An owl—one of nature’s best natural pest controllers—might eat
multiple poisoned rodents. The poison builds up. Soon, it can’t fly
properly. It starves, or bleeds internally, just like the rat.
So instead of solving a problem, we create a cascade of suffering
across the entire food chain.
And here’s the irony: by killing off predators, we actually make the
rodent problem worse. Fewer owls and hawks mean more rats in the
long run.
This isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a community issue. Pets are
at risk. Children can be exposed. And our local ecosystems are quietly
being damaged.
That’s why I’m calling on the City of Cupertino to take action.
We need education—clear, accessible information that helps residents
understand the real impacts of rat poison and the safer alternatives
available.
We also need to make sure people are aware of the laws already in
place. California has taken steps to restrict the most dangerous second-
generation rat poisons, yet many residents still don’t know what is legal,
what is restricted, or why these rules exist.
And we should consider stronger local action—whether that’s additional
guidance, outreach, or further limits on the use of these high-risk
poisons.
Because there are better solutions.
Sealing entry points. Managing waste properly. Using humane traps.
Supporting natural predators like owls by installing nesting boxes.
These approaches don’t just react—they prevent. They work with
nature, not against it.
So next time we think about using rat poison, we need to remember:
We’re not just killing a rat.
We’re potentially killing an owl, a hawk, a fox—and damaging the
balance of our entire ecosystem.
And we’re doing it in one of the slowest, most painful ways imaginable.
We can choose a smarter, more humane path.
And I urge Cupertino to lead the way—with education, awareness, and
responsible action.
Thank you.
Ying Sosic
Cupertino Resident