RAPTORS Act, introduced following three years of student-led research and advocacy, targets rodenticides harming wildlife and pets

Pace University students in the Animal Advocacy Clinic met with lawmakers in Albany today to advocate for legislation aimed at restricting the use of rodenticides linked to the deaths of wildlife and companion animals.

The bill, known as the RAPTORS Act, was introduced by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Chris Burdick following three years of student-led research and advocacy.

“The prevalence of anticoagulant rodenticides in the environment threatens to make these poisons another DDT, unless we act now,” said Michelle D. Land, clinical professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Science and director of the Animal Policy Project. “DDT, a pesticide, was banned only after its harm to birds of prey and other wildlife was undeniable. With anticoagulant rodenticides, that harm is already clear. We are grateful to Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Burdick for their leadership on this urgent issue.”

According to research, second-generation rodenticides have been linked to the deaths of predatory birds and other animals that consume rodents, including wolves, foxes, skunks and coyotes. A Cornell University study found 68% of red-tailed hawks tested in New York had detectable rodenticides in their systems. Data from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation show nearly 90% of tested hawks in New York City showed exposure to rodenticides.

The risks extend beyond wildlife. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center receives thousands of calls each year related to rodenticide exposure in pets, and national poison control data indicate that young children are also at risk of accidental ingestion.

“My legislation to severely limit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides is in response to the alarming toxicity of these chemicals, how they unintentionally end up poisoning non-targeted wildlife, including birds of prey, other mammals and even humans, and the lasting accumulation of these super poisons in our ecosystems,” said Sen. Harckham. “The availability of effective alternatives and continued innovation in pest management further underscore the need to advance and enact this bill. Thank you to Pace University’s Department of Environmental Studies and Science and its Animal Advocacy Clinic for their partnership and science-based advocacy.”

The proposed legislation would prohibit both second-generation and first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs and FGARs), while allowing limited exceptions for significant threats to public health, critical infrastructure and certain agricultural uses. In those cases, nonchemical methods must be attempted first, with safeguards to reduce unintended exposure.

"It is incumbent on us to protect our wildlife and maintain balance in our ecosystems,” said Assemblymember Chris Burdick. "I’m grateful for the collaboration with Pace University’s Department of Environmental Studies and Science and its Animal Advocacy Clinic and with Senator Harckham in creating this piece of legislation. As we learn more about the consequences of some of the toxic chemicals we use and as we develop safer and more environmentally friendly ways to achieve the same goals, we must pass legislation to keep up with the science."

The Animal Advocacy Clinic builds on a strong track record of student-driven policy success at Pace. Founded in 2016 as the Environmental Policy Clinic, the program has helped advance legislation to protect animals and wildlife, including the Elephant Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2017 and banned the use of elephants in entertainment in New York.

The clinic has also supported successful efforts to pass legislation banning wildlife killing contests in New York, following years of research, advocacy and lobbying by Pace students.

These efforts laid the foundation for the Animal Advocacy Clinic, where undergraduate and graduate students, including first-year students, collaborate across all majors to research, draft and advocate for legislation.

“Through my research for the Animal Advocacy Clinic, I learned how widespread these poisons are and how often they affect animals who were never the target,” said Gertrude Phiri, a graduate assistant with the Animal Policy Project and a master’s student in environmental science and policy. “It became clear to me this is an ecosystem-wide issue that calls for a legislative response.”

Wildlife rehabilitators across New York have been a critical part of the effort to ban anti-coagulant rodenticides, documenting suspected poisoning cases and providing frontline insight into the frequency and severity of exposure in non-target species.

If enacted, the RAPTORS Act would position New York among a growing number of jurisdictions moving away from widespread reliance on anticoagulant rodenticides in favor of more targeted, preventative approaches.

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About the Animal Policy Project at Pace University

The Animal Policy Project at Pace University advances legal and policy solutions to improve the treatment of animals and protect biodiversity. Through research, advocacy, and experiential learning opportunities such as the Animal Advocacy Clinic, the Project works with students, policymakers, and partner organizations to address complex issues at the intersection of animal welfare, public policy, and environmental protection.

About the Department of Environmental Studies and Science

The Department of Environmental Studies and Science at Pace University prepares students to address pressing environmental challenges through interdisciplinary study, applied research, and hands-on learning. The department is home to initiatives such as the Suburban Biodiversity Conservation Center, which focuses on protecting and restoring biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.

Brendan Patrick Hughes, a Clinical Assistant Professor in Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts, has received a 2025 Peabody Award for his podcast Divine Intervention, a project he wrote, hosted, produced, and directed.

The recognition places Hughes among the most accomplished storytellers in media today and highlights the strength of faculty at Pace's Sands College, where industry expertise meets hands-on creative training. Known for preparing students to become working performers and creators, Sands College emphasizes real-world experience across theater, film, television, and emerging media.

“The opportunity I have at this school, to work with the young storytellers whose ideas will shape the future of the American narrative, is something I cherish every day.”

The Peabody Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious honor in broadcasting and storytelling—the equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize for media. Now in their 86th year, Peabodys are awarded by unanimous vote of a diverse board of jurors and recognize only a small number of works each year across all of journalism, documentary, entertainment, and podcast and radio. Being selected is exceptionally rare, and past honorees represent the most impactful and enduring media of their generation.

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Divine Intervention was recognized in the podcast and radio category for its compelling retelling of a largely overlooked chapter in American history. The series takes listeners to 1971 Boston, where a group of young Catholic priests and nuns formed an anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. They provided the first political sanctuary in a Catholic Church in 400 years to draft resister Paul Couming and engaged in draft board raids that brought them into conflict with J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI.

Through vivid storytelling, Hughes—whose father was a Catholic priest before marrying himself to his mother in his last act as a priest—explores themes of radical faith, resistance, and attempted reforms within the Catholic Church. The podcast also reveals a personal connection, weaving in the story of Hughes's own family and grounding the historical narrative in lived experience. “I grew up on a commune, hearing these crazy stories of the ex-nuns and priests who lived there becoming cat burglars to sabotage a war,” Hughes says. “When it dawned on me how unusual this was, I knew I had to start recording their stories. The whole project took 25 years to complete.” The result is a layered and emotionally resonant series that connects past events to present-day conversations about activism and moral courage.

Hughes's achievement reflects the mission of the Sands College of Performing Arts, where faculty are active professionals shaping the future of their fields. Faculty like Hughes bring their creative practice into their teaching, preparing students to craft stories that engage audiences and contribute meaningfully to the cultural conversation. “All storytelling is truly at an inflection point,” Hughes says. “The opportunity I have at this school, to work with the young storytellers whose ideas will shape the future of the American narrative, is something I cherish every day.”