Wildlife Has No Voice. We Do.

Why we're taking a stand against second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) — and why we think you should, too.

There's a war being waged against wildlife, and some of its victims never even see the weapon.

An owl catches a mouse. A hawk grabs a rat. A fox finds what looks like an easy meal.

Nature doing what nature does.

Except this time, dinner comes with a dose of poison.

And that poison doesn't necessarily stop with the animal it was intended to kill.

Welcome to the ugly world of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, better known as SGARs.

What Are SGARs, and Why Should You Care?

SGARs are powerful rodent poisons designed to kill rats and mice by preventing their blood from clotting. The result is internal bleeding, often over several days.

But here's the particularly disturbing part: these poisons can remain in an animal's tissues long after it's eaten the bait.

So when an owl, hawk, fox, bobcat, or other predator eats a poisoned rodent, it can be poisoned too. This is called secondary poisoning.

And because these chemicals can persist and accumulate in animal tissues, repeated exposure presents an additional danger.

The very animals that naturally help control rodent populations are being harmed by the chemicals we're using to control rodents.

We're poisoning the pest control to control the pests.

Brilliant system, isn't it?

This Isn't Just Happening Somewhere Else

Follow wildlife rehabilitators in Massachusetts and across the country, and you'll see that rodenticide poisoning is far from an isolated occurrence. The cases are out there. The animals are suffering. Not every case makes it into the news, and countless others are never discovered at all.

Wildlife doesn't make veterinary appointments when something feels wrong. Sick animals often retreat into the woods, disappear, and die without anyone ever knowing what happened.

We may never know the true scale of the problem, but we don't need a complete body count to recognize that it's happening.

But What About the Rats?

We get it. Nobody wants rodents chewing through their wiring, contaminating food, or setting up housekeeping in the attic.

Rodent problems are real, and they need real solutions.

But there's a difference between managing a problem and creating an entirely new one.

Sealing entry points, removing food sources, and improving sanitation can all play a role in rodent management without spreading persistent anticoagulant poisons through the food web.

The goal shouldn't be to simply kill more rodents.

It should be to manage them effectively without poisoning everything that eats them.

And perhaps we could stop treating the animals that provide natural rodent control as acceptable collateral damage.

Just a thought.

Why Berkshires Boutique Is Getting Involved

We're a small New England brand with a big appreciation for wildlife, wild places, and the creatures we share them with. We're also newly permitted wildlife rehabilitators here in Massachusetts, and while we're just beginning that chapter, it's already made our commitment to protecting wildlife feel even more personal.

Some of our designs are sweet. Some are sarcastic. Some feature animals expressing precisely how little interest they have in socializing.

And some have something more serious to say.

Our BAN SGARs Collection is part of that last group.

We created these designs because we believe clothing can do more than look good. It can start conversations, challenge assumptions, and make someone stop long enough to ask a question.

What are SGARs?

Why is there a vulture on that shirt?

Wait, we're poisoning owls?

Exactly.

And while we appreciate a clever slogan, we appreciate living wildlife considerably more.

This collection includes designs ranging from straightforward calls to ban SGARs to some rather less polite expressions of frustration.

Because sometimes a polite request feels inadequate when the stakes are this high.

What Can You Do?

You don't need to be a wildlife rehabilitator, biologist, or environmental activist to make a difference.

You can start right where you live.

• Skip SGARs. Learn what's being used around your home or property, and ask pest control companies about non-SGAR alternatives.
• Focus on prevention. Seal entry points, secure food and trash, and remove the conditions that attract rodents.
• Speak up. Encourage local businesses, property managers, and community leaders to adopt wildlife-conscious rodent management practices.
• Support organizations working for change. Learn about efforts to restrict SGAR use and protect wildlife from secondary poisoning.
• Spread the word. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to make someone reconsider a product they've never thought twice about.

Wildlife Has No Voice. We Do.

An owl can't petition lawmakers.

A fox can't question a pest control contract.

A poisoned hawk can't explain what happened to it.

But we can.

We can demand better solutions. We can support stronger protections. We can refuse to accept preventable wildlife deaths as an inevitable cost of doing business.

And yes, we can wear our opinions right across our chests.

Our BAN SGARs Collection isn't about being controversial for the sake of controversy.

It's about giving a damn.

More animals. Less poison.

That shouldn't be a radical idea.

[Explore the BAN SGARs Collection]

Want to learn more? Visit the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's guide to wildlife and rodenticides for information about SGARs, their impact on wildlife, and ways to reduce the risks.