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Protect Aussie birds from dangerous SGAR rat poisons

Native birds, wildlife, and even pets are at risk because of the unregulated use of Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide poisons in Australia. These silent killer chemicals are still available on retail shelves and online in Australia, despite the known risks.

Australian Governments and decision makers can help us solve the current problem, and ensure that when Australians turn to pest control, we aren’t accidentally leaking silent-killer poisons into our local communities, and killing vulnerable native wildlife and pets.

Add your voice to our petition, and help us bring these silent killer poisons under control.

Why are SGARs such a risk?

Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides are powerful poisons that cause internal bleeding, but they have two key drawbacks when compared with other rodenticides:

  • SGARs persist in animal tissue for longer than many other rodenticides. This means they are more likely to accumulate within an animal to dangerous and even lethal quantities every time a vulnerable animal ingests these poisons.

  • SGARs don’t kill immediately, so poisoned rats and mice, and non-target animals can spread the danger far beyond where they were exposed to poison. This puts native birds and other animals in the local environment, as well as family pets in neighbouring yards and through our local community at risk.

Australian and international studies have proven SGARs pose lethal risks to birds. Dangerous levels of SGARs have been found in studies on dead Australian birds including: Powerful Owls, Southern Boobooks, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Tawny Frogmouths, and more.

The public retail sale of SGARs has been regulated in the US, Canada and EU for years.
But Australian regulations lag behind, and SGARs are available for anyone to purchase from supermarkets, hardware shops, and online throughout Australia - literally by the bucketload!

Safer alternatives for household use already exist, meaning we simply don’t need SGARs available for retail sale in Australia.

Sign our petition to protect native birds, pets, and other animals in your community.

Once you’ve signed, you can learn more about how SGARs threaten non-target wildlife like native owls, quolls, and family pets, and discover ways you can help, below:

Powerful Own by Lyn Walsh

 
Powl by Lyn Walsh, edited.jpg
 

Resources and Actions

 
Nankeen Kestrel by Heather Thorning.jpg

Learn: What Products to Buy and What to Avoid

A list of safer products, and what SGARs to avoid. This list is non-exhaustive and may be updated regularly.

See here

Resource: How to make your home safer for birds and pets

See our Brochure and poster resources here on ways to keep backyard birds and pets safer from SGARs in your home and garden!

Learn how

Petition: Bunnings, take bird-killing poisons off your shelves!

Retailers like Bunnings continue to sell SGARs, despite the risks to wildlife in our local communities. Click to add your voice!

Sign the petition

Evidence: Learn how SGARs pose a threat to wildlife

Learn what SGARs are, how they kill wildlife and pets, and links to the science, including details from our recent study that found 60% of sampled owl livers showed dangerous levels of SGARs

Learn the facts

Action: Email your Local Council about their SGAR use

Many local councils across Australia are making the switch away from SGARs, and making their communities safer. Email your council to find out how they’re tackling the threat of SGARs.

email your council

Resource: Action Kit for Councils to phase out SGARs

Councils can help phase out the use of SGARs in your local community. We’ve put together simple and effective ways every LGA can address the problem of SGARs near you, free to download.

Download
 

Image credits: Powerful Owl by Lyn Walsh, Nankeen Kestrel by Heather Thorning, Australian Boobook by Matt Wright, Golden Retriever (Shutterstock), Australian Magpie by Graham Gall.