Owl Watch BC is reporting that owls are perishing across the Province and the Nation due to secondary poisoning from highly toxic Second-Generation Anticoagulants (SGAR’s). Rat poison moves through the food chain after a rodent ingests it and is then consumed as prey. The BC Nature Board will discuss how to best support a change to use of these poisons.

One owl can eat up to 1000 rats a year. Owls keep the rodent population in balance naturally and are FREE of charge.

Barn Owl (Wikipedia)

PRESS RELEASE SAANICH. June 29, 2020

Rat Poison Killing Owls in Record Numbers

Historic Motion to Ban Rodenticides-Municipality of Saanich

A historic motion will be proposed at Council meeting on Monday July 13th. Thanks to the initiative of councillors Ned Taylor and Colin Plant, the municipality of Saanich has submitted a motion to ban second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) at Saanich owned facilities, as well as urge the Province to ban them Province wide. Saanich is following the lead of the District of North Vancouver, which on June 15, 2020, unanimously passed the motion to ban anticoagulant rodenticides at all their district-owned properties. The District of North Vancouver Council is also committed to petition the Province to follow their lead. The long-awaited shift was met with tremendous support as recent owl deaths have raised awareness of the harmful effects of Rodenticides on owls and other wildlife across BC.

Deanna Pfeifer and Rob Vanzella of Saanich have recently become members of Owl Watch BC, https://www.facebook.com/owlwatchbc/, a North Vancouver-based wildlife advocacy coalition. Deanna and Rob have now created a local chapter on Vancouver Island after the discovery of the owl deaths in Saanich.

The proposed Saanich motion reads as follows:

1. That Council provide direction to staff to implement a ban of anticoagulant rodenticides in the District of Saanich.

2. That Council request that the Mayor write, on behalf of council, to the Premier of British Columbia, appropriate ministers, copying MLAs in the Capital Region, requesting that the Province of British Columbia ban anticoagulant rodenticides.

3. That Council direct staff to communicate to residents and businesses in the District of Saanich council’s direction on this matter, the harmful impacts of anticoagulant rodenticides, and better alternatives that are available.

4. That Council share this report with all other local governments in the Province of British Columbia.

Owl Watch BC is working on a community awareness campaign and is developing a plan to urge the Province for a province wide ban of rodenticides. The support of municipalities is key to moving forward with a successful campaign.

Owls are perishing across the Province and the Nation due to secondary poisoning from highly toxic Second-Generation Anticoagulants (SGAR’s). Rat poison moves through the food chain after a rodent ingests it and is then consumed as prey.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HQ0dWPbPoyWMsUbLju1g7MNenSL13zg7/view?usp=sharing

Scientists analyzed 164 owls in western Canada and found that 70% had residues of at least one rodenticide in their livers. Researchers found that at least half of those owls had multiple rodenticides in their system.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ROlBrUOiG8r6-EEF_Hj8SmYxOh8s_rX8/view?usp=sharing  

 A necropsy from the Great Horned Owl found in Saanich had 3 different types of Commercial grade anticoagulant rodenticides in its system and 2 of them are so potent they are not to be used outdoors.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1StF3xyyLnuEcUc64xaCyF0ZYHbFRwbZZ/view?usp=sharing

Other wildlife and domestic animals are also at risk of secondary poisoning and many go undetected and unreported. As well as the owls in Kings Community Nature Space, we have had reports of several otherwise healthy dogs who live in the area or visit it daily become very ill with vomiting and diarrhea and in some cases death. Obtaining confirmation of poisoning via necropsy/tissue samples of domestic animals is problematic.  SPCA and College of Vets are aware.

We know there are safer alternatives to pest control such as Contrapest and automatic traps (goodnature.ca). The District of North Vancouver did an extensive investigative report on the subject of secondary poisoning of wildlife due to rodenticides. https://drive.google.com/file/d/12ts6HthbHUNSezMupv-IFZzub8QfOiae/view?usp=sharing

The report highlights that there is a significant amount of rodenticides being used and the amount put into the environment is not tracked, rodenticide is affecting more than just raptors and there are poison free alternatives and using Goodnature Traps, in the long run, is cheaper than using poison and bait traps.

One owl can eat up to 1000 rats a year. Owls keep the rodent population in balance naturally and are FREE of charge.

For more information on these poisons, see this fact sheet. SGAR Fact Sheet