BC Advocates Request Reporting
BC Advocates Request Reporting
B.C. residents are increasingly concerned about wildlife and the impacts of rodenticides (rat poisons) on the ecosystem as reports of dead animals rapidly emerge. In Greater Victoria, 6 suspected poisonings have been reported since July 2019. Unfortunately, this is not surprising as the sale of these products has increased dramatically in recent years. In B.C. alone, brodifacoum sales have increased by 19% and bromadiolone sales have increased by 279% between 2003 and 2015. However, the number of animals lost to these compounds is difficult to quantify as most are left unreported and/or unanalyzed.
In an effort to better understand the volume of animals lost to these rodenticide poisoning, local advocates are requesting the public’s help in gathering data.
If you find a dead or dying animal in British Columbia please follow the instructions and submit the form below.
Photo by: Steve Gordon
Report A Poisoned animal
If you encounter a dead or dying owl or other wildlife species, please take photos and videos, follow these instructions, and complete the form below. If possible, the animal should be preserved in a freezer for tissue testing. We will respond as soon as possible to provide guidance on submission to the appropriate entity if applicable. To report a bat please use this form.
Please note: Companion animals are also highly susceptible to rodenticide poisoning. If you know or have reason to believe that you lost a dog, cat, or other animal family member to rodenticide poisoning within the past 3 years, please complete the form below.
What are Rodenticides
Colloquially referred to as “rat poisons,” rodenticides are pesticides used to kill rats, mice, and other rodents.
Rodenticides are typically formulated as baits, which are designed to attract animals by incorporating flavors such as ground meat, vegetables, fish oil, molasses, or peanut butter. Most of the rodenticides used today are anticoagulant compounds that interfere with blood clotting and cause death from excessive bleeding. Death by rodenticide poisoning occurs slowly and painfully over a period of days or even weeks.
Rodenticides are known to harm animals across the food chain, including mammals, birds, and invertebrates, having long-term impacts on wider ecosystems. The highly toxic, persistent, bio accumulative nature of rodenticides makes them particularly dangerous to a wide range of predators and scavengers, including raptors, crows, raccoons, coyotes, weasels and snakes.
Owls and other birds of prey are at a particularly high risk of secondary poisoning because of their dependence on rodents as a food source. Loss of these species only perpetuates unwanted rodent populations by removing natural predators - a single owl eats around 3 rats per night, approximately 1000 per year.
Why are rodenticides still used?
Both the federal and provincial governments have an obligation to treat the well-being and protection of the environment as a primary consideration. It follows that rodenticides should not pose any unacceptable risks if their use is to be permitted. However, despite acknowledging that ARs are highly and acutely toxic compounds that pose serious threats to the health and safety of children and non-target species, the federal government continues to register these products, and B.C. continues to allow their use.
The provincial government has the power and obligation to make laws to safeguard its people and the environment where the federal government falls short. As awareness of the harmful impacts of rodenticides and more effective, humane alternatives increases, municipalities, community organizations, and the public have united in their demand for a province-wide ban to protect B.C.’s treasured animals and ecosystems. As it stands, B.C. has been resistant to doing so.
With more data and an increasingly amplified voice, advocates are confident that the provincial government will uphold its obligations to its citizens and the environment by imposing a long-overdue ban on these harmful, inhumane, and counterproductive products.
Photo by: Steve Gordon
To learn more click here or download our campaign Fact Sheet.