[SEMCO] IMMEDIATE: Young Great Horned Owl Treated for Rat Poison at Wild Care

Fri May 17 12:07:03 EDT 2019

May 17, 2019

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director, WILD CARE, Inc. /Cell
(650)-319-5491

Photos: Wild Care, Inc.

Young Great Horned Owl Treated for Rat Poison at Wild Care

*Eastham, MA. *On Tuesday morning, May 14, Wild Care, Inc., a wildlife
rescue and rehabilitation center located in Eastham, responded to a call
about a young owl on the ground at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster.
“This is the time of year when young owls are leaving their nests for the
first time,” states Wild Care Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis. “We
often respond to these calls by sending a staff member or volunteer out to
the location to check out the situation. More often than not, the owlet is
fine, and being cared for by its parents”.  Kate Diggs, a Wild Care Staff
Wildlife Rehabilitator responded to this particular call, and arrived at
the golf course to find a young disoriented owl on the ground. The owl was
not behaving normally and was taken to Wild Care for further examination…

“Unfortunately, the owlet is showing neurological symptoms and is not in
good health. The bird’s
[image: GH Owl_051719 WIld Care.jpg]
[image: GHOW Wild Care by Kerry Reid1.JPG]
[image: GHOW Wild Care by Kerry Reid2.JPG]

blood work indicates dehydration and anemia, and exposure to secondary
rodenticide poisoning. Furthermore, the bird has traces of lead detected in
its blood, though not at levels requiring treatment.”

RODENTICIDES - KILLING THE UNINTENDED:

“First and Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are slowly
poisoning our wildlife,” states Ellis.  “When people use
anticoagulant-rodenticide baits commonly sold at household stores and used
by some pest control companies, mice and rats become poisoned and
debilitated, and become easy prey for raptors and mammals. When an owl eats
a mouse that has been poisoned, the owl becomes poisoned. The poison
accumulates in their bloodstream over time, depending on levels of exposure
and the type of rodenticides. Anticoagulant rodenticides that contain
bromadialone,
brodifacoum, difethialone and diphacinoneare particularly harmful because
they pack a punch – they can kill a poisoned rodent after a single night’s
feeding. These compounds tend to remain in animal tissues longer than
first-generation anticoagulants, posing greater risk to nontarget species,
and a risk to animals that feed upon rodents that have eaten the bait.

RODENTICIDE EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE:

The anticoagulants in these products interfere with the blood’s ability to
clot, causing massive bleeding, liver failure, anemia, and ultimately
death. A normal blood-clotting response in a bird is less than 5
minutes.  This owl’s blood took several hours to clot. “This poor, young
bird has not even begun its journey in the wild yet, and is being poisoned
by its parents that are unknowingly bringing tainted prey back to the
nest.  I wish that everyone who uses these products had the opportunity to
see what anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning looks like. These animals come
to us depressed and disoriented.  Some can barely hold up their heads. They
are anemic and often have extensive bleeding and bruising. It is a painful
sight to see.”

Treatment for rodenticide poisoning requires long-term therapy with
supportive fluids, Vitamin K and nutrition, often over a period of a month
or more.  Wild Care staff are providing this intensive care, and are hoping
for the best. “We are grateful to Mark O’Brien, Director of Operations at
The Captain’s Golf Course, for alerting us about the owl.” Captain’s Golf
Course does not use rodenticides on their grounds. “We hope that other
local businesses and homeowners, will make a similar commitment to the
environment and to our wildlife.”

ALTERNATIVES TO RODENTICIDES:

“Raptors and mammals are our most effective means of rodent control, yet we
are slowly killing them with these poisons,” states Ellis. Studies have
shown that hawks are significantly more effective at controlling rodent
populations, than actual rodenticides. Pets and children are also
inadvertently poisoned by ingesting rodenticides. “There are many humane
methods of deterring and controlling rodent populations. Ensuring that food
waste, pet food, and garbage is well-contained, along with exclusion
(closing off the entrance holes that rodents use to get into a dwelling)
are the ultimate answers.  “These methods take more time, but are the most
effective long-term solution for controlling rodents. “

To learn more and support Wild Care, Inc.: www.wildcarecapecod.org.

For information on rodenticides:
http://www.raptorsarethesolution.org/rodenticides-that-kill/

For humane rodent deterrents:
http://www.raptorsarethesolution.org/preferred-pest-control-products/

For humane rodent control: http://perrylepews.comHumane wildlife management
on Cape Cod

*WILD CARE’s wildlife rehabilitators treat birds, mammals and reptiles
brought to the center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild
when they are capable of independent survival. Through public education,
WILD CARE works to prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the
community in conservation through volunteerism. Since our founding**,**WILD
CARE has accepted over**27**,000 wild creatures, representing **more than**275
species of native birds, mammals and reptiles. If you encounter injured,
orphaned or ill wildlife**,**please call the WILD CARE of Cape Cod helpline
at 508-240-2255. **Visit WILD CARE’s websit**e at**www.wildcarecapecod.org*
<http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/>*to**donate**. Visit our Facebook page:
“Wild Care Cape Cod” for animal updates and info on events.*

                                                                        ###

Stephanie Ellis
Executive Director
Wild Care, Inc.
10 Smith Lane
Eastham, MA 02642
www.wildcarecapecod.org

Find us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/WildCareCapeCod>!
508-240-2255 office
<http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/>
   <http://bit.ly/wildcaresubscription>
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