Newtown Conservation Commission

09/06/2026

The Newtown Conservation Commission is looking for folks that would like to be part of a type of Task Force / committee to bring awareness to our community regarding education of rodenticides.
We’re not sure what this looks like yet, but would like to work with like minded people and brainstorm ideas. Please comment or send me a dm.

01/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18yznzAJLX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🎙️🐭New Episode Alert ‼️ 🐭🎙️ The Lads invited Holly Kocet and Lisa Shirk of the Newtown Conservation Commission to stop by the Blackbeard for a pint and to talk about the new rodenticide ban in town! 🔗 in bio for all streaming platforms

01/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1H5NDxZaQX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Tis the season! The town mowers are out chopping up the knotweed! If you do not want the town to cut yours that is along a road because you are planning to mitigate it in the fall, please reach out to us for a free sign.

31/05/2026

Newtown Knotweed Initiative was at the demonstration plot by the pickleball courts at FFH, making the first cut of the season using the Nix the Knotweed strategy WHICH DOES NOT WORK! Plot 1 which uses the science of spraying in the window by a licensed applicator only had 5 small mutated plants, while Plot 2 , the Nix the Knotweed side had 180 stalks. This is year 3 for this plot. After cutting, stalks were taken to the invasive trailer at the Newtown Transfer Station.

30/05/2026

Newtown Conservation Commission was out at FFH removing invasives. They worked hard cutting down mugwort, and removing bittersweet from trees. They freed up this beautiful northern spicebush and found some lovely natives hiding out under barberry. The made some “ dry and die” piles with the brush that will become habitat. 4 commissioners were present as well as Ellen and Jeff Kutner. thanks for the help!

22/05/2026

Concerned about hantavirus? Read this!

With hantavirus in the news, we acknowledge there's been an uptick in concern about rodents and calls for rat poisons to supposedly control the outbreak.

22/05/2026

Southbury becomes the second town to pass a rodenticide ban in CT! Well done Southbury! Great job Kristin Cedor, their ACO who brought the issue to the table.
What town needs some help to do this? Please reach out!!

06/05/2026

https://harriscenter.org/events/the-rat-poison-problem-how-rodenticides-are-harming-wildlife-pets-and-people

Calendar of Events List Month Category Online Events Lectures Women in Science Community Science Art Workshops Outings Botanizing Nature for All Hikes Easygoing Hikes Birding Environmental Studies Institute Youth & Family Programs Teen Programs LAB GIRLS+ Afterschool Programs Programs for Babies & T...

04/05/2026

Last week, a bill passed that will protect wildlife now and into the future. The Newtown Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support the town’s Conservation Commission Rodenticide Policy, banning the use of rodenticide bait boxes on town properties.

These poisons don’t stop with their intended target. When a rodent is exposed, it becomes part of a much larger chain: one that often ends with owls, hawks, eagles, and other wildlife who rely on them for food. For these animals, there is no antidote.

This decision reflects something we believe deeply: when we choose to care for the animals in our immediate surroundings, we are, in turn, protecting the broader ecosystem they are part of.

Kudos to Newtown! It is the first town in Connecticut to take this step.

03/05/2026

Great volunteer crew at FFH with Newtown Conservation Commission cutting invasives. We made quite a dry and die pile in only an hour! Thank you again!