Opinion: Bill Banning Rodent Pesticides Could Spur Rat Infestations in San Diego

San Diego is the gem of California, known for its amazing weather, diverse communities, walkable neighborhoods, and abundant outdoor activities. However, like any city, San Diego faces challenges, some unique to our region.

Recently, San Diego was ranked among the worst cities for bed bug infestations. The city is also dealing with a growing homeless population, increasing traffic, and a never-ending sewage crisis at the border, where Imperial Beach is ranked as one of the most polluted beaches in the United States.

Our diverse landscape includes amazing urban areas, large agricultural lands, and wildlife regions. However, this landscape diversity can be a double-edged sword. If Sacramento takes away local farms and communities’ pest-control tools, we are at risk of rodent infestations. 

Rodents are not just a nuisance; they are carriers of serious diseases like Hantavirus and salmonellosis. Rodents that threaten urban areas easily migrate. For instance, roof rats are the most common rodents in San Diego County. These pests live above ground, are gray or brown, and are notorious for contaminating food, spreading disease, and causing structural damage through gnawing. They are most active at night and consume various types of food, including human food, pet food, bird seed, and trash.

In November 2023, San Diego was ranked the 28th rattiest city in the United States. Just over a year ago, downtown San Diego residents reported that the rat population was exploding.  

In the California State Legislature, Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, a Democrat from Burbank, introduced Assembly Bill 2552, which would ban both first- and second-generation rodenticides. This legislation raises significant concerns regarding public health and food safety. The health risks associated with rodent-borne diseases are particularly troubling for San Diego’s diverse landscape and population, which includes farmers, farmworkers, families, and vulnerable individuals.

At a time when rodent populations are surging in California, AB 2552 threatens to remove essential tools used by pest control operators and local governments to manage these dangerous pests. 

If the State Legislature removes these pest-management tools, what will it replace them with? AB 2552 is completely silent on alternatives to these scientifically tested and proven pest control tools. 

Residents need to understand the implications of AB 2552. This law impacts local food sources, restaurants, and family meals. While AB 2552 has been amended to permit limited use of rodenticides in agricultural settings, controlled rodenticide use elsewhere could lead to rodents invading agricultural and food storage settings and overwhelm those locations, putting our food supply at risk.

Here is why it matters: National Geographic highlights the severity of the issue, noting that without proper pest control measures, a single female rat can have up to 15,000 descendants in one year. 

What impacts will this have on those living in urban areas? Rodents don’t stay contained in a single area; they multiply quickly and search for food, carrying rodent-borne diseases. If the Legislature in Sacramento eliminates essential rodent management tools from our pest control operators and local government, these rodents will multiply quickly and overrun urban areas. 

We urge all local legislators to review the bill’s language carefully and consider its intended and unintended consequences. They should also consult with pest control operators and local government officials in urban and agricultural areas. The health and safety of our families, communities, and food supply are vital. 

Renee Pinel is president and CEO of the Western Plant Health Association. The association supports the safe use of pesticides that protect the environment and human health.