The new white paper documents the illness, injury, and death of pets and wildlife from widespread rodenticide use.
DC Responsible Rat Management has released a white paper finding dozens of reports of animals being unintentionally harmed by rat poison, including over 20 reports of pets accidentally ingesting rat poison. Rodenticides—the chemical poisons used to kill rats and mice—are a frequent threat to bystander animals who get poisoned when they unwittingly eat the bait directly or prey on another animal that has eaten poison. The paper follows a City Wildlife study showing that many types of animals throughout the District die due to rodenticide poisoning, with most testing positive for multiple types of poison. This paper also comes as the Rodent Education and Management Yields ("REMY") Results Amendment Act of 2026, which would restrict untrained use of anticoagulant rodenticides in the District, moves through the DC Council.
The white paper sheds light on the threats posed by “off-label” rodenticide use—the application of poisons without the required safeguards—and a loophole in federal regulations that allows individuals to buy large quantities of dangerous rodenticides. Some individuals who purchase these rodenticides online and over the counter use them outside of a secure bait station or in ways not permitted by federal requirements. Doing so puts pets, wildlife, and even children at risk of ingesting the bait.
The paper also shows that rodenticide poisoning is not an abstract problem but a documented issue affecting communities across the District. An accompanying map displays more than 100 reports of rodenticide poisoning throughout the city. The report explores factors that contribute to rat population growth, including climate change, and emphasizes the need for long-term, prevention-focused solutions.
"It breaks my heart to hear about a family losing a beloved pet to rodenticides," said Max Broad, Executive Director of DC Voters for Animals, a founding member of the coalition. "These tragedies are preventable and underscore why the District needs safer and more effective approaches to rat management."
DC Responsible Rat Management, whose motto is “prevention, not poison,” also runs community programs that educate DC residents on sustainable rodent prevention strategies and the harms of rodenticides. It has created the DC Rat Ranger program to raise awareness and empower residents to become community leaders focused on safely preventing and reducing rats in their neighborhoods. To get involved and learn more, visit https://www.dcratsolutions.com/rat-rangers.