{"id":348,"date":"2021-11-28T18:16:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-28T18:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legislatekindness.com\/?p=348"},"modified":"2021-12-17T03:50:57","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T03:50:57","slug":"owl-killed-at-ministry-of-environment-office-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legislatekindness.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/28\/owl-killed-at-ministry-of-environment-office-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Owl killed at Ministry of Environment office building"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On November 16, 2021 Deanna Pfeifer of Rodenticide Free BC received a call about a dead great-horned owl at the Jutland Road office of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in Victoria. Black poison boxes had been located against the outer walls of the building, leading to the conclusion that the bird had been poisoned by rodenticide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Owl as he was found at Jutland Road office building<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On July 21, 2021 the BC government announced an 18-month Rodenticide Action Plan, which was to include the ban of second-generation rodenticides and a scientific review of the root causes of secondary poisonings on owls and other raptors. The ban was to be in effect until January 2023. The announcement on their website reads: \u201cWe share the concerns of many British Columbians that rodenticide use is harming, and too often killing, birds, pets and other wildlife\u201d said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. \u201cThat is why we are taking action to reduce risks, conduct a review and step up our efforts to reduce unnecessary pesticide use, rather than safer alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bromadiolone is on the list of banned poisons. At least one pest control company in Victoria did not appear to have received the memo. Photos were taken of not only the label on the boxes, but the grain bait that was under them, clearly labeled Bromadiolone on both the box and the bait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Label on poison box at Jutland Road location, November 16, 2021<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Example of type of grain bait that was spilled out of the trap at the Ministry of Environment office building.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A week after this discovery I went on my own to the office building. I found that all three boxes had been replaced with new ones that had no labels for either company or contents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of 3 poison boxes at same office building, photo taken November 23, 2021<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On their Facebook page Rodenticide Free BC writes \u201cOur investigations and analysis reveal a catastrophic failure across government agencies responsible for keeping, collecting and monitoring data necessary to protect wildlife and the environment from the impact of [Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides.] By failing to properly regulate the use of SGARs, the Ministry falls tragically short of its statutory duty to protect the environment from the adverse effects of these poisons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister Heyman has the authority and the ability to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides at any time. This partial, temporary ban is impossible to monitor, as evidenced by this circumstance where the landlord of a Ministry of Environment office has hired a pest control company that uses Bromadiolone in spite of the temporary ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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