A groundbreaking exposé of the widespread use of rat poisons and their deadly toll on animals—and us

Bald eagles are a conservation success story, rebounding after DDT and other harmful chemicals, which drove them to near extinction, were banned. But today, eagles and other wildlife face a new threat: rat poisons. Animal Collateral reveals the truth about these poisons the chemical companies and their lobbyists don’t want you to hear, describing how SGARS—an especially deadly class of poison used in bait boxes found around homes, businesses, and communities—are killing owls, hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes, and other wildlife. SGARs and other lethal anticoagulants are also killing pets as well as people and have even sickened large numbers of children—all while proving ineffective at solving the rodent problem.

Laura Kiesel shares the tragic stories of Flaco, the owl who captured the hearts of New Yorkers after escaping from the Central Park Zoo; MK, a female bald eagle that became a local celebrity in Boston; and P-45, a pregnant California mountain lion. She investigates the industries that are prioritizing profits over public health, exposing the dubious tactics used by chemical companies to protect their bottom line despite mounting evidence of harm. Kiesel also interrogates our deep prejudices against rats, examining why we demonize some species while revering others.

Animal Collateral ultimately delivers a message of hope, describing the practical steps each of us can take to protect our families and communities and profiling the courageous individuals and grassroots organizers who are leading the charge against these poisons.