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Letters: Raptors poisoned in Richmond

Dear Editor, Re: “ Richmond considering banning use of rat poison ,” Online, July 23.
rat
Vancouver beat out such rodent-infested hot spots as Victoria, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey and, of course, Nanaimo to be crowned the rattiest city in the province for the second year in a row. Image: Pixabay

Dear Editor,

Re: “Richmond considering banning use of rat poison,” Online, July 23.

As president of the Garden City Conservation Society, I am disappointed that the poisoning of our wildlife is not being treated as an urgent matter by Richmond City Council. Owls and other raptors (our chemical-free, effective method of pest control) are dying a horrible death. All they want to do is eat a meal. They have no way of knowing that their dinner has been poisoned by anticoagulant rodenticide.

People put out poison, not intending to kill an owl or an eagle, but that is exactly what is happening.

 Councillor Alexa Loo says “It’s just us doing something little in Richmond…” by banning rodenticides. She suggests working with Vancouver Coastal Health and the provincial government on this problem. Taking the ban further is a good idea but delaying what we could do immediately is not. It’s better to take action.

Cities are good agents of change because they can make changes quickly, if a matter is seen as urgent. Our birds dying a painful and unnecessary death is urgent. 

Raptors eat rodents. They eat lots of rodents. We could start protecting our raptors that live and breed and kill rodents in Richmond, our wildlife family of birds that works for us. That’s who we need the urgent action for.

Please, Richmond City Council, do not let more birds die.

Sharon MacGougan

RICHMOND