ARIZONA, USA — Grand Canyon National Park officials are sharing a warning about rodent poisoning after a bobcat was found poisoned to death in the South Rim Village in the park.
The use of rodenticide (any poison used to kill rodents like rats, mice, etc.) is banned in the Grand Canyon. These poisons frequently cause unintended harm to wildlife, pets and people that come into contact with them.
"Over the last few years, bobcats, coyotes, fox, mule deer, and chipmunks have died from having been exposed to rodenticides. These animals are not the targets, but are dying after ingesting unapproved and inappropriately used rodent poisons," park officials said in a press release.
Rodent poisoning can linger in the food chain for weeks as carnivores and scavengers eat rodent-poisoned animals.
California condors — one of the world's most endangered animals — are particularly vulnerable to this type of poisoning as scavengers of dead animals, park officials noted.
"We need to work together and take responsibility to ensure that these preventable deaths do not happen here at Grand Canyon," officials said.
The National Park Service offers a disposal service for rodent poisoning, as well as free rodent kits to safely address rodents in the home or workplace. The kits are designed to provide supplies and guidance for safely removing pests while protecting yourself from disease.
To arrange a pickup or drop-off of rodent poisoning or check out a rodent kit, you can contact Brandon Holton, Wildlife Biologist, at brandon_holton@nps.gov or Brady Dunne, IPM Wildlife Biologist, at brady_dunne@nps.gov.
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