Rethinking Rat Control: Wildlife Conservation and Compassionate Solutions with Dr. Bec Gooley

In this eye-opening episode, conservation scientist Dr. Bec Gooley challenges our perceptions of one of the most maligned animals – rats. From debunking disease myths to exposing the devastating environmental impact of rodenticides, Dr. Gooley shares groundbreaking research about how rat poisons are affecting entire ecosystems. As both a scientist and policy advocate, she discusses California’s landmark legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides and explores compassionate alternatives for human-wildlife coexistence.

This episode explores:

• The truth about rats’ intelligence, social behavior, and role in ecosystems

• How rodenticides impact wildlife, with over 90% of mountain lions testing positive for rat poison

• California’s groundbreaking legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides

• Science-based, humane alternatives to lethal rat control

• The One Health approach to human-wildlife conflict resolution

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Bec Gooley is a conservation scientist specializing in wildlife disease ecology and environmental toxicology, with groundbreaking work on rodenticide impacts on ecosystems. After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Sydney and postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, she now serves as a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow at UC Davis. Her research on rat poison’s devastating effects on wildlife led to landmark legislation prohibiting anticoagulant rodenticides in California. Combining scientific expertise with advocacy, she champions compassionate coexistence strategies and develops innovative solutions for human-wildlife conflict, particularly focusing on ethical approaches to rodent populations.

•  Contact her at rebecca.m.gooley@gmail.com

RESOURCES 

• • • • How hospitals are tackling the environmental crisis in health care
      • How U.S. Taxpayers Bailed Out the Poultry Industry, and Helped Entrench Avian Flu
      • Insisting on Cheaper Eggs Is a Huge Mistake
      • Exclusive: New healthy drink guidelines for kids say no caffeine before age 19
      • n meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback
      • ‘Insanely tasty green food’: how the meaty Danes embraced a world-first plant-based plan
      • How Trader Joe’s got caught up in a farmgirl TikTok beef
      • A Well Fed World: Climate-friendly food guide
      • Dr Bec Gooley on Instagram
      • WISDOM Good Works website

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview.

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