29 AUGUST 2025
THURSDAY 04/09/2025
MODERN RAT POISON KILLING POWERFUL OWLS I was recently privileged to see an adult Powerful Owl roosting during the day in Wights Mountain (see photo). These iconic birds have special significance in Samford Valley: ‘the home of the Powerful Owl’. This reminded me that a Village Pump reader asked if we could re-publish and update an article about owls being seriously threatened by the use of modern rat poison. BirdLife Australia has found that owls, frogmouths, eagles and other Australian birds are dying after eating rats and mice exposed to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). (NB: Warfarin is relatively ‘safe’, by comparison.) It’s not just birds that are affected: any animal that eats rodents is at risk, even your pet cats and dogs if they come across a dead/dying rat or mouse. Key Problems: • SGARs often don’t kill instantly (as claimed); poisoned rodents can move into new areas and spread the threat around. • Rodents remain contaminated with SGARs for many months, even after they die. Research has revealed that these rat and mice poisons are having a devastating impact on Powerful Owls. Livers of deceased birds were analysed and 37 of the 38 samples showed the presence of rodenticide, particularly brodifacoum, which is the most persistent and most common SGAR used in the rat poisons available on hardware and supermarket shelves. Nearly 60% had levels high enough to cause impairment (putting them at greater risk of being hit by vehicles) and 10% had levels high enough
to kill the bird outright. These are shocking statistics, and we need to act now to save these magnificent birds. BirdLife Australia is campaigning to ban the sale of SGARs to the public, just as they already are in the US, Canada and the European Union. The government regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), has been reviewing their regulation here since 2021, with a ruling expected in mid-2024, but the decision had been delayed for a third time. Furthermore, recent scientific studies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK have shown that rats and mice are developing
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resistance to anticoagulants through several genetic mutations. This means that the poisons will become less effective over time (and using extra bait does not kill resistant rats). How You Can Help: • Rodent proof your home with wire mesh. • Remove the food source: ensure seed isn’t available to rats and mice at night. • Use rat and mouse traps instead of bait (they deliver a quick death rather than slowly bleeding to a painful death over several days after ingesting SGAR). • If you must use rat bait, make sure the ingredients are warfarin, coumatetatryl or diphacinone. • Avoid using baits containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum and flocoumafen. • Only purchase baits that come in block or paste form, and deliver them in tamper-proof bait stations. • Avoid bait pellets because other animals can easily eat them. • Sign the petition asking Federal Minister Collins to remove SGARs from sale to the public. You can find the petition and further details here: https://www.actforbirds.org/ ratpoison. Let’s work together to save these magnificent owls. Peter Storer Pictured:A majestic Powerful Owl in Wights Mountain