These rodent poisons are highly efficient at killing their intended targets, put when left in open areas, the native carnivores like skunks, raccoons, ravens, hawks, owls, coyotes, or bobcats are also poisoned, sometimes fatally so. House pets are also at risk from accidentally consuming these anticoagulant compounds or the animals who have consumed rodenticide, and insufficiently tamper-proof packaging also puts children at risk.
 |
| A coyote enjoying a snack. Credit |
Bay Area Wildcare reports that in the last year, 76.8% of wildlife seen at their clinic tested positive for levels of rodenticide toxins. Removing these products from store shelves will drastically reduce this percentage over time, although bio-accumulation will ensure the toxins remain in the food chain for a while. Licensed pest control companies will still be allowed to administer the poisons, however.
Reckitt Benckiser may resort to using diphacinone as the active ingredient in their d-CON. Although diphacinone is still poisonous to non-target species, it is less dangerous, is removed from the body more easily, and must be consumed multiple times to be fatal.
Surprisingly, rodenticides may be placed not only around homes and businesses, but also in state and national parks. These poisons in our park system means that all wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, will continue to be at risk. CA Assemblyman Richard Bloom has proposed Bill 2657 to prohibit the use of any pesticide in wildlife habitats, which will ensure that our park systems become refuges for our fauna.
No comments:
Post a Comment