As residents of Haliburton County, we live here because we love nature, the wildlife and we love to share it with our companion animals and family. There is something scary going on though and that is the widespread use of rodenticides (rat / mouse poisons). What brought this to my attention was the sad and sudden death of one of our beloved rescue dogs Torchy. I hope that her story will help protect others from the same fate. 

Torchy always seemed to be an adept hunter, catching many rodents and even gifting us the odd one, hiding them in her bed. But when I look back on her 6 short years I realize why she was able to catch them as easily - they were sick and slow, dying themselves. I know now that rodenticides are the go-to method of pest control in this area. The black bait boxes are everywhere once you know to look for them. With this greater awareness I am horrified to think of the number of animals we have lost, and the damage they have done to our ecosystem. 

At approximately 8 months,Torchy caught her first mouse in the middle of the sidewalk swallowing faster than I could even react. This story played itself over and again throughout her life, even just 2 months before her passing. 

Torchy ultimately died of liver failure due to the bioaccumulation (build-up) of rodenticides. After 3 months of fighting, daily vet visits for hepatic support, and syringing water and food into her, we had to say goodbye to relieve her pain. Hopelessly watching Torchy lose her will to live is a memory I will carry with me the rest of my days. In her honor, I will fight to end the use of these products as no animal deserves such suffering. 

Rodenticides are CRUEL

Poison bait boxes are stocked with rodenticides. These poisons are so toxic that they are usually lethal after one ingestion. But, here is the big issue - this poison takes days or even weeks to kill. In that time, rodents have been shown to feed on the poison many more times. This is rendering the rodents slow, easy to prey upon and highly toxic. It is well known that our companion animals, raptors and many other wild animals are eating these easy to catch rodents and dying as a result of it. The poison in the rodents consumed is bioaccumulating in the livers and ultimately killing them. 

Rodenticides are INEFFECTIVE

First, rodenticides do not address the root of infestation problems and fail to control rodent populations over the long-term. Rats and mice are drawn to areas where they have access to food and shelter, and so structural access points to these resources must be addressed if they are to be permanently removed. By eliminating the resident rat population, rodenticides simply clear the way for a new population to move in. Further, in response to the thinning of their populations, poisoned rodents mate faster in the days to weeks before their deaths. Relying solely on methods of killing instead only facilitates the rebound of these populations.

Second, raptors and other predators that feed primarily on rodents serve as a natural and chemical-free method of pest control. A single owl eats around 1,000 rats per year: the number of rodents killed by pest control professionals is unclear and unmonitored. It is simply irrational to repeatedly pay for a company to release poison into the environment, while owls will control our pests for free (if we just stopped killing them).

A common misconception propagated by the pest control industry is that banning poisons will make rat problems worse – the reality is that our reliance on poisons is facilitating the rebound of infestations. Clearly poisons do not work, evidenced by the fact that pest control companies remain on contracts to supply poisons for indefinite durations of time. Despite recognizing these limits, rodenticides remain the default method used by most pest control companies.

Alternative approaches to poisons do exist, and a transition to chemical-free methods could be done with relative ease, and would prove cost-effective for both consumers and the government in the long run. The primary step that sustainability-oriented pest management companies recommend is “rat-proofing” the premises of buildings by addressing the active and potential access-points in the structures. Food and other resources that attract rodents must also be secured or eliminated. It is in the economic interest of pest control companies that use poisons to ignore these steps, as permitting such conditions to persist invites new populations of rats to invade, thus giving rise to continued business.

Rodenticides are BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Not only are we killing wildlife by continuing this inhumane and ineffective practice but, we are disturbing the natural balance of our environment and disrupting biodiversity. When cities, towns and municipalities place bait boxes in sewer systems, the poisons end up in our water.  A recent study in Ontario showed that 62% of owl livers showed accumulation of these poisons.  Not only are these poisons affecting mammals but, other wildlife like turtles, worms and insects, are eating the carrion of animals that have died due to rodenticide toxicity. More horrific -  studies have identified these poisons showing up in fish and invertebrates species.

Rodenticides are DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS AND COMPANION ANIMALS

Rodenticides are known to bioaccumulate and persist in the environment posing human health risks. Recently, researchers in the United States have even measured traceable levels of ingestible rodenticides in the milk supply. The American Association of Poison Control Centers receives approximately 10,000 reports of rodenticide exposures in children annually in the U.S. Health Canada has determined observations in the U.S. to be representative of the situation in Canada. Since rodenticides are intended to be palatable for their target species, pets are also inclined to consume these toxic products. Dogs and cats may also hunt or catch poisoned rodents, putting them at risk of internal bleeding and death. Rodenticides are known to suppress an animal’s immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to diseases such as mange.  

What to do if you find a sick, injured or abandoned animal:

Recent research suggests that Ontario's wildlife and companion animals are at an increased risk of rodenticide poisoning due to the increased use of chemical pest management compounds. If you find a sick or dead animal please take steps to report so that the problem can be monitored and better understood;

• Follow safety steps outlined here to safely handle and store the animal.
• Call the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 1-866-673-4781 to report.
• Complete this online submission form. 
• Take photos or videos of the animal and note the date and location.
• Support citizen science rodenticide monitoring effects by reporting to Allison Hansen at hansenallisonm@gmail.com or phone 905-718-7248

STAND UP AND SAY NO TO RODENTICIDES.

Please sign this petition and tell our local leaders that you demand action to protect our loved ones, wildlife and the environment by banning rodenticides.