Sustainable Arlington

06/16/2026

[new] ... Smart Mosquito Management at Home ...

This brochure discusses the risks posed by backyard mosquito sprays and covers simple and environmentally friendly practices to effectively manage mosquitoes instead of using insecticides.

06/03/2026

MA native plants/pollinators calendar ... Great talks, films, in-person events for Pollinator Month

At this Pop-Up market, we will be joined by several growers from our native nursery network, all small businesses who specialize in sustainably-grown native plants.

05/18/2026

5/19: ***Mosquito Control: Science, Risks, and Solutions*** 12-1 pm, EDT, zoom ... Webinarhttps://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/5c9mxsu/lp/6b771c74-1efb-4d22-bb71-7fdd7d79fd78

You’ll notice many mosquito control companies offering to spray your yard this time of year. Though this may seem like a quick and easy way to deal with mosquitoes, it’s often an ineffective control strategy. These insecticides are toxic to pollinators and other beneficial insects and may pose a...

05/09/2026

5/9, 2-5 PM: EcoFest Summit 2026: Greening Our Neighborhoods Together ...

The Town of Arlington is excited to announce this year’s EcoFest Summit, a vibrant in-person event dedicated to greening Arlington, neighborhood by neighborhood. This free event will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the large Main Hall at the Arlington Community Cent...

04/28/2026

4/28, 7 pm (zoom) Climate Change and the Future Flora of New England ...

Climate change is emerging as a top threat to biodiversity in the 21st century. For plants there are alarming projections of species declines, range shifts, and the disruption of important biotic interactions such as with pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. Understanding the nature and magnitude of t...

04/22/2026

Alewife Brook National News Story

Environmental organizations in Massachusetts are urging water officials to keep sewage out of waterways in several Boston-area communities by committing to a more modern sewer system with separate pipes for waste and storm runoff.

04/20/2026

5/7: The Future of Biodiversity: Reconciling Nature and Economics [Harvard Salata Institute, & Boston Climate Week] ... register at link below

04/19/2026

Massachusetts wildlife becomes active once again in the spring. This time of year, learning to coexist with the wildlife we see in our community becomes especially important.

Animals like coyotes, foxes, woodchucks, raccoons, rabbits, skunks, chipmunks, mice, various birds, and more can be seen throughout Massachusetts. Often, the best thing to do is leave the animals be – they want to keep their distance as much as we do.

Even better, some of the larger animals we see (like foxes, coyotes, and hawks) help us manage the populations of smaller animals (like rats, mice, and rabbits) that frequent our area.

Key things to remember:
• Leave the animals to take care of themselves (don’t feed them or try to befriend them)
• Leaving food out for wildlife (including bird feed) will result in fines issued by the City
• Make sure your trash and compost bins are completely closed/latched
• Consider non-toxic/natural alternatives to rodent poison such as products made from ingredients like corn gluten meal (e.g., RatX). These work by dehydrating the rodent and are safe for other wildlife.

Learn about safe ways to explore Massachusetts wildlife and nature here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/explore-massachusetts-wildlife-and-connect-with-nature

04/18/2026

I am very sad to relay the news that the bald eagle known as FAE died from SGARs poisoning.

Following MK's tragic death in 2023, her widower KZ mated with FAE and they have been together since then.

As I wrap up the final draft my book on rat poisoning this month, I will be amending it to include the details of this latest tragedy. I am heartbroken by this news. This is the third bald eagle confirmed to have died in Arlington from SGARs.

**Please see the Statement prepared by Tufts University, April 16, 2026 by Dr. Maureen Murray, director, Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University:

An adult bald eagle found deceased in Arlington was transported to Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University on March 12, 2026. Veterinarians at Tufts Wildlife Clinic performed a post-mortem examination of the eagle and collected samples for toxicologic analysis and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) testing. The eagle was negative for HPAI. Analysis of liver tissue was positive for three second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. These results, along with the presence of significant hemorrhage in the absence of evidence of traumatic injury on the post-mortem examination, support a diagnosis of anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis as the cause of death in this eagle.**

ETA by SAW: How many more losses will it take until Massachusetts takes real action and enacts a statewide ban on anticoagulants?

We have a state bill with real teeth to end this carnage. Please let's pass it.

Photo of FAE by Margaret Lewis.

04/16/2026

AI energy consumption -- important to understand.

Societal Digital Footprint: Is Your AI Habit Costing the Earth?
Wednesday, April 22
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Robbins Library Community Room

We often think of the "Cloud" as weightless, but every AI-generated image and chat response relies on massive data centers that consume significant energy and water. As we embrace these new tools at this library or in your homes, it’s vital to understand the environmental trade-offs.
From the electricity powering GPUs to the water cooling the servers, our digital lives have a physical impact on the planet. Dr. Sucharita Gopal, core faculty with the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at BU’s College of Arts and Sciences, will help us explore how we can use technology mindfully—balancing innovation with conservation. Join us to learn how to make your digital footprint a little lighter while staying tech-savvy.