Come hear from local activists Peggy White and Richard Clapper at the June Berkshire Green Drinks event, as they share their work on a growing movement to protect Massachusetts’ birds of prey and other predators from deadly rodent poisons. Supported by Mass Audubon, Peggy and Richard are helping lead the campaign to restrict the use of anticoagulant rodenticides—poisons that are killing not just rodents, but the wildlife (and pets) that feed on them.

Raptors, coyotes, and other predators play a critical role in keeping our ecosystems healthy and balanced. But these animals are being poisoned at alarming rates simply for doing what nature intended—eating rodents. When a predator consumes a poisoned rodent, it can suffer internal bleeding and die a slow, painful death.

The toxins—known as Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ARs)—are meant to control rodents, but their impact extends far beyond pests. Household pets, such as dogs and cats, hawks, owls, eagles, bobcats, and even people, can be harmed by these chemicals. ARs stay in a rodent’s body for days, posing a deadly risk to any animal that comes into contact with them.

Massachusetts lawmakers are now considering S. 644 / H. 965: An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment. This legislation could be a game-changer for protecting wildlife, pets, and people—but it needs public support to pass.

Join us to learn more about the dangers of rodenticides, the solutions being proposed, and what YOU can do to help move this critical legislation forward.

DATE: Wednesday, June 11

TIME: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM — In-person attendees can begin gathering around 5:15 PM if they wish. 

LOCATION: Hot Plate Brewing Co., 1 School St, Pittsfield, MA & Online via Zoom

In-person Attendees, please note: Hot Plate Brewing offers a selection of beer made on-site, as well as coffee and espresso drinks, tea, wine, cider, hard seltzers, and other non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. Hot Plate does not sell food, but they encourage you to bring snacks for yourself or to share. You can also have food delivered to Hot Plate from other local restaurants.

Click here to register for online participation. (Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.)

RSVP Here if you plan to join us for the in-person gathering (doing so helps the venue staff).

Immediately following the event at 7 PM, author Lucas Schaefer will be making a stop at Hot Plate’s taproom for a book signing, reading, and Q&A with Mike (one of Hot Plate’s owners). They’ll also have a custom beer for this event, inspired by Lucas’s forthcoming novel THE SLIP, which will be published on Simon & Schuster this June. The novel has already received a star in Kirkus Review and is also named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by LitHub, Debutiful, and CrimeReads. Find out more here.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Richard Clapper spent his career working for Pepperidge Farm, a commercial bakery based in Connecticut. Now retired, he is a dedicated beekeeper, well aware of the potential danger of poison. Peggy White is a retired healthcare provider. Both are Berkshire residents who love nature and like to be known citizen activists who are dedicated to be the voice of wildlife.

What is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along, and you’ll be made welcome.