The evidence against SGARs
Wondering why Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides can be so bad for the environment, wildlife, and even pets? We’ve summarised the evidence below:
SGARs are potent chemicals that cause internal bleeding in animals
SGARs don’t kill immediately, and can build up in animal’s body for up to years before killing it. This means that poisoned animals can become walking time bombs spreading dangerous levels of SGAR poisons around
Wildlife like owls, kookaburras, and quolls, even beloved pet cats and dogs, are vulnerable to being poisoned by eating animals that ingested SGARs
60% of Powerful Owl livers that we tested had dangerous levels of SGARs!
Vets have experienced spikes in treating pets for rodenticide poisoning during Australian mouse plagues in the recent past
Dozens of Australian studies, on animals from Tiger Snakes to Tassie Devils, show SGARs poison native wildlife and pets, mirroring international evidence
These chemicals can serve a role in conservation projects on islands, where the need to protect native wildlife from invasive rodents has been considered by conservation professionals, and the impacts of SGARs on non-target wildlife are controlled for and observed.
The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is considering regulating SGARs, as has already been done in the USA, EU, and Canada
Safer alternative methods of rodent control are already available in Australia
We’ve detailed the evidence further in the tiles, below
To learn how you can avoid SGARs, or make a difference in your local community, see our Rat Poison homepage
Powerful Owls by Andrew Silcocks
