To control rats, save the raptors

July 27, 2025

By Linda Graetz, Guest Writer ● July 25, 2025 ● The Waltham Times

The death of a majestic bald eagle during the winter of 2023 sent shockwaves through the environmental community and sparked a local movement that continues today. The eagle, known as MK, was the third member of a family that once lived in Waltham’s Mount Feake Cemetery to die from anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning. This was yet again a tragic reminder of how efforts to control rodent populations can have devastating unintended consequences.

Inspired by environmental advocate and journalist Laura Kiesel’s presentation on the dangers of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to wildlife, four concerned Waltham Land Trust members formed Save Waltham Wildlife that February. The group has an ambitious goal: to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of these deadly poisons throughout the city. SWW’s mission has taken on new urgency as Waltham grapples with what many residents simply call “the rat problem.”

Recent Posts

June 21, 2026
June 2026
By N/A N/A June 11, 2026
Waltham RiverBeat will have multicultural music, food, art, activities on/along the river including nature and history walks led by Waltham Land Trust!
By N/A N/A June 6, 2026
Over twenty people celebrated National Trails Day by removing litter with stewards from the Waltham Land Trust from along the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) between Hammond Street and the reNEW apartment complex east of Linden Street. We were thrilled to see nature as well! Many thanks to everyone who helped. Remember, you can park in designated Rail Trail spots along the path in the AutoZone lot on weekends!
By N/A N/A May 18, 2026
BY NEWSROOM ● May 18th, 2026 ● The Waltham Times
By N/A N/A May 18, 2026
It’s time to start the garden and yard projects! Buy seeds, plants, garden supplies, groceries, deli sandwiches, flowers, fruit baskets, fish, etc., and and the Waltham Land Trust gets 20% of your purchase with this coupon .
By N/A N/A May 17, 2026
Support the mission of the Waltham Land Trust by bidding on items in our silent auction.
By N/A N/A May 15, 2026
Thank you everyone for coming! The online auction is still going through Sunday 17th at 6pm.
By N/A N/A April 30, 2026
WLT expert birder Emily Szczypek led a group of nine birders along the Charles River to admire resident birds and those who were migrating through the area, plus some other riparian wildlife. This was a joint program with Brookline Bird Club and Menotomy Bird Club. It was a chilly morning, but everyone saw lots of birds and had a lovely time. At the end, they ran into magnet fisher and WLT steward Alessio with a helper at the Mary Early footbridge!
By N/A N/A April 29, 2026
Help WLT earn a little money by enjoying food and drinks at this casual, sports-themed restaurant!
By N/A N/A April 25, 2026
To kickoff the huge annual Earth Day Charles River cleanup, WLT ED Sonja Wadman joined the leadership of DCR and other nonprofits who organize the event along with Waltham Representatives Lawn and Stanley at the Hatch Shell in Boston. Then on April 25, about 125 volunteers of all ages helped remove litter and invasive plants from along the Charles River in Waltham. Most met at Shaw's on River Street, while others worked in "the Island" neighborhood, around the Mount Feake Cemetery, and all along the river path.