After months of investigation, the city is changing its methods of combating rodents and other pests that can spread disease or damage buildings.
To protect native wildlife from accidental poisoning, Coquitlam banned all rodenticides in November 2020.
After exploring alternatives to the chemical, the city will now adopt more “humane” pest control measures to stop the spread of disease and prevent possible damage to buildings.
During a pilot project that began last December, the city’s pest control company switched to mechanical snap traps hidden in secured bait boxes and speeded up its inspection process.
In a press release this week, Coquitlam’s environmental manager Caresse Selk said the methods have been endorsed by the BC SPCA and have been shown to be safer for dealing with pests such as rats and mice.
“Prevention is the primary approach, including cordoning off access points, clearing vegetation, removing food sources and educating building occupants and occupants,” she said.
“Prior to the pilot, and only when needed, the contractor followed industry practice of using poison bait traps outdoors and mostly snap traps indoors, except in cases of heavy infestation.
“Coquitlam’s move away from rodenticides on citizen property is in line with more than 20 other British Columbia communities that have either implemented or are considering similar bans.”
The contractor’s project was carried out on the recommendation of the city’s sustainability and environmental advisory board to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides of the second generation (SGAR) on land owned by the city.
The two most common second-generation rodenticides are Difenacoum and Brodifacoum – the latter is responsible for most of the deaths from second-hand poisoning.
Secondary poisoning is considered a threat to ecosystems as the chemicals enter predators (e.g. hawks, owls, etc.) when they eat rodents (e.g. mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, etc.).
Coquitlam will complement the new methods later this year along with a new public awareness campaign.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT PEST IN MY HOME?
As Coquitlam continues to use its pest control contractor in its urban facilities, residents are being asked to be accountable and accountable when it comes to deterring rodents, pests and other wildlife from their homes, businesses and private property.
The city’s public tips are as follows:
- Watch out for rodent signs
- Chewing marks, feces, noises, footprints and urine
- Take away hiding and nesting places
- Remove clutter or trash from yards and garages
- Keep grass and vegetation trimmed
- Seal holes and cracks that can serve as access points
- Use a green cart or rodent-resistant compost bin for any leftover food
- Eliminate other sources of food and water
- Remove windfalls or nuts
- Feed pets indoors
- Remove spilled bird seed daily
- Keep grills clean
- Repair leaky faucets or remove outdoor containers that may contain water
- Contact a licensed pest control company that uses humane and animal-friendly methods to deal with ongoing rodent or pest problems
For more information, please visit the pest page on the City of Coquitlam website.
– with a file from Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News
