In Australia, owls are dying at an alarming rate due to the use of rat poison.
Scientist Professor Raylene Cooke reports that numerous owls, including the mighty barn owl, are falling victim to poisoning.
These animals feed on possums, which often come into contact with rat poison. The poisons, especially second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), prevent blood clotting and lead to internal bleeding.
According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald detailing the research of Cooke and her colleague, Associate Professor John White, SGARs are banned in many countries, including the US, Canada, and the EU.
However, in Australia, these products remain legal and widely used.
Studies have shown that 91% of brushtail possums and 40% of ringtail possums examined had traces of rat poison.
These poisons enter the bodies of birds of prey and other wildlife through the food chain, causing their death.
The researchers are now calling for stricter regulation of these poisons in Australia. They suggest that SGARs be added to the list of restricted chemical products to stop their sale in supermarkets and hardware stores.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has begun a review of these poisons, with results expected by the end of the year.
