The poison is set out as bait and is consumed by rodents like rats and mice, which then return out into the wild. When the rodents do eventually die from the poison, they become an easy meal for predators like owls and hawks. These birds of prey suffer the effects of secondary poisoning, experiencing a drawn out and painful death, which could take months.
While the retail sale of SGARs was banned nine years ago, Mass Audubon said they remain legal to use by licensed animal control professionals in Massachusetts.
This is not the first time a death like this has happened. A 2020 study found that all of the Red-tailed hawks tested at a wildlife clinic in Massachusetts had SGARs in their bloodstreams. Also, 82 percent of sampled bald eagles had SGARs.
Widespread of poisons mean 'this owl won't be the last', highlighting serious implications of rodenticide usage on local wildlife populations.
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