Youth Action for Wildlife
Image by Andrew Silcocks
Our wildlife is still at risk — your voice can help protect it. Act now
March 10th was a landmark day for the Birdlife, raptor and owl community. After years of campaigning to ban SGARs the APVMA announced a one year ban on the public sale of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs). It’s a huge win — and proof that pressure works.
But we’re not done yet.
SGARs are still being used commercially, continuing to harm wildlife and ecosystems. We need stronger controls, tighter regulations, and a clear path to a full phase-out.
Now it’s time to push further.
Use the buttons below to:
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Email the relevant ministers (quick, templated, effective)
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Lodge your submission to the APVMA (takes minutes, makes an impact)
Every message counts. Let’s keep the momentum going and make this ban complete.
Take action now.
Who are we?
We are a group of high school students who are campaigning for the Australian Government to ban Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs). Our mission is to educate the community on the detrimental effects they are having on our wildlife and pets and to encourage the use of alternative methods for rodent control.
What are SGARs?
Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides
SGARs are a type of rat bait that take longer to break down in the body than their alternatives. Because of this, they remain in the body after the rodent has died, and can be transferred to any animal that eats the dead rodent. This in turn leads to secondary poisoning, with the predator dying because of the poison. Because of how harmful they are, these poisons have been banned in the EU, UK, Canada, and America.
Current status of SGARs in Australia
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We need as many people as possible to respond to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)—in December the APVMA acknowledged that SGARs posed an "unacceptable risk" to wildlife, however they made the ridiculous decision to allow the continued use of SGARs contained within a bait box, with thousands of letters, more scientific data presented and outrage by many Australians, the APVMA changed its mind on March 10th and recommended the following:
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Withdrawal of SGARs from public purchase from March 24th, however, shops are allowed to sell out their remaining stock
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Woolworths and Coles have removed SGARs
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Bunnings and Mitre 10 are still selling SGARs
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Licensed pest controllers can still use SGARs
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Proposal of use with a tamper free bait box
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Mandated removal of all dead rodents by homeowners
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Baits cannot be more than 2m away from a building
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This is still not an acceptable solution
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SGARs should be banned for public and commercial use and only used under tight controls when absolutely necessary e.g., rodent eradication on islands
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Tamper free bait boxes do not prevent second generation poisoning as slugs, snails, cockroaches and rodents all enter and exit the bait box carrying the bait, becoming highly toxic bait stations in themselves. Not all owls eat mice and rats (Boobooks love slugs and cockroaches).
Stand up for Nature
Say NO to SGARs
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Don't use SGARs! - if you use a pest control company tell them you don't want them to use SGARs at your home; make sure they can tell you what they are using. Ask the same questions of your work, school etc.
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Use traps rather than poisons.
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Make sure you are dealing with rats or mice beforehand. Native species such as bandicoots and mardos can be killed in traps - never use them outside or in spaces accessible by wildlife.
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Try other options before reaching for poisons
Ideally don't use any poisons. Poisoning of native wildlife still occurs with FGARs by direct (primary) consumption.
Prevention of rodents
Most importantly avoid attracting the rats and mice in the first place (see below)
Sign our letters to the APVMA and relevant Ministers—your voice matters, and continued pressure is essential.
If your local supermarket or hardware store is selling SGARs, speak up. Let them know you’re concerned and ask them to stop stocking these products. Profit shouldn’t come at the expense of wildlife and environmental safety.
