Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

As a result of increasing concern over rodenticide registration, in 1990, the California Legislature passed a law to collect $0.50 per pound surcharge on all vertebrate pest control materials sold by county agricultural commissioners in the state of California. Monies collected are used to fund research required to maintain the state’s current vertebrate pesticide registrations, to improve existing rodenticides, and to find new materials and methods to solve California’s vertebrate pest problems. A Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee was established to administer this fund and set research priorities. To date, the program has raised more than $9 million to meet its objectives. The history, operation, and accomplishments of the surcharge fund are discussed in this report. A summary of projects funded is presented.