Advocates Welcome British Columbia's New Rodenticide Action Plan
A Step Forward for WiLdlife
The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has announced its new Rodenticide Action Plan, which includes an 18-month ban on the sale and use of second-generation rodenticides (SGARs) and a scientific review of the root causes of secondary poisoning. The ministry’s plan also includes increased public education on the risks of SGARs and the benefits of alternative pest control approaches. Effective July 21, 2021 until January 20, 2023, SGARs will be prohibited for sale and use in B.C., subject to a wide range of exemptions.
While the Ministry’s Rodenticide Action Plan represents an important step forward, we are concerned that it does not go far enough, soon enough. The ban’s broad exemptions continue to leave B.C.’s wildlife at a high risk of exposure to these products since any business defined as an “Essential Service” or an “Agricultural Operation” can continue to use SGARs via certified or licensed pest control applicator. These terms encompass a wide variety of structures including hospitals, gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores, transportation facilities, and even telecommunications services.
That said, we are pleased that the ministry is acknowledging the unreasonable adverse effects SGARs have on wildlife, and that it is taking action in response to the growing pressure from thousands of local wildlife advocates and numerous municipalities across the Province following the deaths of countless poisoned owls.
Rodenticides are highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative poisons that deliver a lethal dose to a rat or other small animal in a single feeding, but take days to kill, causing substantial suffering in target species and making them particularly dangerous to predators. Banning the use of these highly toxic compounds is not only necessary to protect our wildlife, but required under the true meaning of integrated pest management.
The Ministry's commitment to moving towards safer, more humane, more effective pest management solutions is encouraging. Increased monitoring and reporting requirements designed to ensure an integrated pest management approach are employed is essential to protect B.C.’s biodiversity for future generations. DTA and its local partners are hopeful that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies already required by B.C.’s Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA), will finally be implemented and enforced.
We look forward to seeing the ministry promote a preventative approach and its leadership in guiding “essential services” and the agricultural industry in their transition away from the use of rodenticides. Decades of research have established that owls and other raptors are at a particularly high risk of secondary poisoning because of their dependence on rodents as a food source. Rodenticides pose a serious threat to the ecosystem and simply fail to control rodent infestations over the long-term.
Through its review of the science, we are optimistic that the ministry will find the confidence to implement a broader, permanent ban on the poisons that are unreasonably and unnecessarily killing our wildlife.
It is more important than ever for the citizens to speak up in support of
making B.C. rodenticide free.
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