SWAMPSCOTT – The Town is looking to implement a new way of decreasing the rat population (without adding pesticides to the environment) courtesy of a collaboration between Speak Up for Animals and SenesTech, which will utilize Evolve Rodent Birth Control to help mitigate the situation.
Deb Newman, president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, spearheaded the mission to seek out safer alternatives to mitigate the issue of the rat population around town. She said that she favored Evolve Rodent Birth Control because it is the most humane method of controlling rodent populations.
Speak Up For Animals works with the mission to advocate for the welfare and protection of wildlife and companion animals in Massachusetts, according to its website.
The organization engages in educational activities, including events and campaigns to increase the public’s awareness of animal issues, and collaborates with other municipalities’ committees, boards, commissions, departments, and nonprofit entities to protect the habitats and well-being of animals.
“We have to stop seeing wildlife as ‘the enemy’ and take responsibility for our own mess instead of blaming rodents for their natural attraction to trash and invitations into unsecured buildings,” Newman said.
Director of Facilities Max Kasper worked with Newman and connected with SenesTech Vice President Bryan DiMenna and the company’s Director of Marketing Rochelle Paulet. SenesTech will be creating a viable plan of action at the Swampscott Fire Department in order to figure out how to proceed forward and to educate the public on the matter.
“Success is inevitable when three things happen: proper placement of bait stations; consistently timed bait replacement; and integrated pest management that includes public education regarding trash and other rodent attractants,” DiMenna said.
DiMenna also agreed to a free assessment of the Swampscott Middle School, with a proposal of solutions to follow shortly.
Newman expressed that she’s thrilled to have Kasper be receptive to the project, and that he’s “so open-minded and forward-thinking.”
“We need a smart, compassionate leader, not a czar. Killing and more killing perpetuates the notion that rodents are mere objects to clear out of our way. What an unethical message to give, especially to children, even as we read them bedtime stories about kind, playful, and industrious mice. And, obviously, the killing doesn’t work,” Newman said.
SenesTech is committed to creating healthier environments by humanely managing animal pest populations through fertility control. The company’s groundbreaking products integrate seamlessly into pest management programs, reducing reliance on traditional poisons. For more information, visit https://senestech.com.
