Poisoned owl in Copley Reserve prompts plea over ‘napalm for rodents’

Two Rivervale youths urge both their local council and Bunnings to better control the use of an effective pesticide called “napalm for rodents” after finding a sick beech owl believed to have been poisoned with the toxin.

A blood-thinning chemical used in second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) is known to remain active for months and pass through the food chain, causing secondary poisoning of animals that eat the dead and die.

Lorelei, 11, said she was walking her sister Phryne, 8, and father Damien Smith on the Copley reservation in March when they found the sick owl.

They took the animal to the Native Animal Rescue in Malaga, where a rescuer said it was likely that the owl had ingested rat poison.

Camera iconA beech owl. Photo credit: David Baylis/Community news

Lorelei wrote to the CEOs of Wesfarmers and Bunnings urging them to clearly separate first and second generation rat poisons on their shelves and better educate the public.

“We went to Bunnings and found that there were first-generation and second-generation rat poison boxes mixed up on your shelves and indistinguishable,” she wrote in the letter.

“This is bad because people can’t tell the difference and there isn’t any information in your stores about how the poison is used so it doesn’t harm owls.

“We think you should make it as hard to buy second generation rat poison as a can of spray paint.

“We should protect our owls so that future generations can see them in the wild.”

Adrian Pearce, general manager of merchandising at Bunnings, said they worked with suppliers to ensure that packaging for rodenticides is clearly labeled and according to government requirements to minimize the risk to other wildlife.

“As with all of our products, we encourage customers to follow the directions on the label and we continue to look for ways to educate customers about safe product use,” he said.

“We also offer non-toxic alternatives such as rodent repellants, live traps, normal rat traps and natural bait pellets.”

Camera iconPhryne Barnes-Smith and Lorelei Barnes-Smith. Photo credit: David Baylis/Community news

Mr Smith has also started a petition urging the City of Belmont to introduce local laws requiring approval and payment of a fee prior to using products with SGARs.

He said second generation rodenticides should not get into the hands of suburban amateurs.

“We have effective alternatives that are safer because they break down relatively quickly and leave the food chain,” he said.

“These products should be our first choice.

“These poisons are not available in the US or Europe, but in Australia consumers cannot tell from the packaging which poison is causing the problem.”

The city of Belmont currently offers two types of second generation rat bait over the counter to its residents.

The city said it has no authority to control the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in the community but would review their use amid concerns.

“The city recognizes the risk to bird life from residual toxins when birds of prey consume poisoned rodents, but it’s not a problem that can be improved by local government policies or legislation,” a staff report said.

Mike Bradford, CEO of the City of South Perth, said rodent control was required in public places like parks and reservations. The city only used first-generation rodenticides, which are less likely to harm wildlife.

Neighboring councils City of Canning and Town of Victoria Park are not using or offering second-generation bait to residents.