The Wasco County Board of Commissioners’ proposal to poison birds at the county landfill and cherry orchards is a costly, ineffective response that eliminates the animal but will not eliminate the problem. 

We encourage the Board of Commissioners to instead adapt solutions that create long-lasting, effective results. The Portland International Airport and cities like Seattle and Lancaster, PA, have utilized humane solutions that are not only reducing their bird problems but are also protecting other bird species, such as bald and golden eagles and red-tailed hawks. 

We also request that the Board of Commissioners and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prove how their plan to poison will not cause incidental poisoning to other birds that frequent the landfill--birds like eagles, owls, ravens, and turkey vultures--all who are protected under the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, the Bald and Golden Eagle Act, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. 

Poisoning crows and ravens is not supported by research or data. In fact, researchers argue that reducing bird populations by lethal methods are temporary, and the birds return within one year. Similarly, there are no studies that show a direct correlation between crows and salmonella outbreaks; salmonella can live dormant in an environment for years and can be carried by a myriad of animals other than birds (including mammals and amphibians). Cherry orchards will not eradicate salmonella by killing crows. 

Further, all non-lethal options have not been attempted. Although APHIS has permits to “mitigate” animals, we question why the first response is to exterminate the birds, rather than enact long-term solutions. The Code of Federal Regulations of the US Fish and Wildlife Service states that government employees must attempt non-lethal options before using lethal options. This includes “netting and flagging, the use of trained raptors, propane cannons, and recordings.” The only option stated by Gary Reed, a cherry farmer, was fireworks, and the only option stated by the representative for the US Department of Agriculture, was shooting birds. 

The current plan to poison animals is inhumane, causing birds to suffer from epileptic seizures until their nervous system fails. Killing healthy wildlife does not align with our mission at the Rowena Wildlife Clinic, nor should it align with the values of the people of Wasco County.

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