Friends of Griffith Park has carried out considerable behind-the-scene efforts to encourage the Department of Recreation and Parks to use alternatives to rodenticides, particularly anticoagulant rat poisons which climb the food chain to kill (or make ill) owls, bobcats, coyotes, hawks, foxes, and even P-22. We think wildlife is appreciative of our persistence!
Now it’s time to eliminate rat poison usage in the residential areas of Los Angeles — after all, wildlife moves freely between residential and public places. Here are tips for keeping our urban wildlife healthy by not using rat poisons:
Primary Rodent Control
- Get rid of favorite food sources such as spilled bird seeds, pet foods, fruit rotting on trees, snails and slugs.
- Eliminate rodents’ favorite habitats, such as English ivy, wood piles, and other outdoor sheltering spots.
- Seal it. Rodents find ways into sub-basements, vents, and attics. Openings — even dime-sized holes — must be sealed.
- Remove grass, vegetation, and any debris next to your house and buildings.
Secondary Rodent Control
- If rodents are numerous or have breached your home, mechanical or electronic traps are the most humane method to deal with the problem. Don’t use glue traps; don’t use live traps. Other wildlife could get entangled and besides, it’s very cruel.
- If you call a pest control company, insist they not use anticoagulant rat poisons. There are many harmless-sounding trade names for the same nasty poisons hidden in “bait boxes” so don’t be fooled.
- Old fashioned wood snap traps work fine and are inexpensive. Electronic traps work, too. There are even electronic traps that will send you an email notice when tripped! How’s that for technology?
And finally, don’t freak out just because you saw a mouse, rat, or even two! As in Griffith Park, many rodent species are part of a normal ecosystem. In the Park, rodent species include the very cool dusky-footed woodrat and the cute California vole.
~Gerry Hans
Want to know how the poison chain works?
There are electronic and other traps available in stores and online that eliminate rats and mice without resorting to rodenticides. These can range substantially in price and capability. Make sure to shop around when you’re comparison-shopping to get exactly what you want.
The mini golf course by EATS ( at griffith park) is using poison bait traps ro kill the chipmunk population. Can something be done to prevent rhis? It is July 2022 for God sake. Cann they. Not do so.ething less cruel? Or just leave them alone?
We’ll reach out to RAP and raise this question with them… It’s our understanding these rodenticides were supposed to be phased out…
“No poison is a good poison. There is NO excuse for any poison baitbox!
Not only are the anticoagulant poisons bad, but the alternatives are even worse.
These include cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), bromethalin, zinc phosphide, aluminum phosphide (Fumitoxin), and strychnine.
All these poisons have NO antidote!
GO TO THIS LINK TO LEARN ABOUT THE NON-ANTICOAGULANTS:
https://poisonfreemalibu.org/non-anticoagulant-rodent-poisons/
They are increasing in use as the anticoagulants are becoming in disfavor.
HOWEVER, the non-anticoagulants are extremely dangerous and HAVE NO ANTIDOTES!
There are alternatives to poisons – please check out our website at poisonfreemalibu.org for ideas on how to control rodents without using poisons.
Thank you for not using any poisons!’
Kian
thanks for your comments, and thanks for the tremendous work you do as well!
BAN RODENTICIDES
ALL RODENTICIDES.
NOW
I wanted to make the Friends of Griffith Park aware of a revolutionary new solution to rat control that uses birth control as a 100% environmentally safe and humane method. The product is called Contrapest by Senestech.
visit their website to learn more https://senestech.com/contrapest. Ask your pest management team to use Contrapest in place of deadly poisons.