California's restrictions on rat poison are good news for mountain lions

Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes look at what gets our team talking. Let us know what you think [email protected].

Circle of life

California recently became the first US state to restrict the use of all blood-thinning rat poisons. These rodenticides not only affect rats, but also the animals they hunt, such as mountain lions and owls. notes that L.A. Times in a story that caught the attention of RTBC editor and California resident Michaela Haas.

Michaela says:

This is super important. Most people still don't realize how harmful rat poison is.

Just like rain

In mid-September, Storm Boris brought record-breaking rainfall to Vienna. But the city, as the BBC reports in a story Will Doing shared this week was well prepared.

Will says:

After severe floods in recent decades, Vienna has started to set up flood protection infrastructure, which is now paying off in times of heavier rainfall. Those efforts were put to the test this month when a massive storm brought record rainfall to the city, which escaped largely unscathed. There are many adaptable lessons here that other cities could emulate.

What else we read

🚲 Where cargo bikes free cities from environmentally harmful transporters – shared by RTBC founder David Byrne from Bloomberg

🌳 American chestnut trees discovered in the Central Coast – shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby from the Mid Coast Villagers

🎨 “It's the first time I've woven in 27 years”: Peruvian women revive arts lost to the trauma of forced sterilizations – shared by Michaela Haas of The Guardian

In other news…

We are preparing for our upcoming variety show, Amazing people doing amazing thingswhich will take place next Tuesday in New York City to celebrate RTBC's five-year anniversary. We'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes insights, so stay tuned.