I loved the Indy’s front-page article (and photos) last week about photographer Nancee Wells, the local naturalist who has chronicled nesting Peregrine Falcons in Three Arch Bay. We also have a pair up here at south end of Top of the World. Wells explained how DDT nearly wiped out these and other raptors in the ’60s, and how they recovered once EPA banned it.
I wanted to point out that, sadly, we still have other poisons decimating our local bird and wildlife populations. Most are in the form of the rat bait used to manage rodent populations. When mice or rats are poisoned, however, other creatures and birds eat them and are also poisoned and die. You might have read the heartbreaking articles about the poisoned mountain lions up north. Ironically, the very animals that help keep down our local rodent numbers are the same falcons, owls, hawks, coyote and bobcat that are being poisoned and killed. (Each year, thousands of dogs and pets are also accidentally poisoned.)
Environmentalists are working to ban the worst of these poisons and keep them out of our communities, but the rodenticide companies have powerful lobbies that keep blocking their efforts. California cities are not even allowed to ban them locally. (Laguna Beach could ban them on city property, such as in our parks and city buildings, but has yet to act. Irvine recently banned them.) Those of us who live here, however, can still make changes on our own to protect our local wildlife.
Here in Laguna Beach, bordered on all sides by a vast nature preserve, we have the unique opportunity to make a huge impact by simply not using these poisons—or at least easing off as much as possible. Instead, we can take alternative steps to control rodents, such as using snap or Zapper traps. Also, we can ask our pest control workers to not put out poison and insist on other traps or methods. People complain these are not as effective, and they most likely are not as lethal for great numbers as poison—but we need to remember what else we are inadvertently killing.
We are so fortunate to have these magnificent birds, like Nancee’s falcons, and other wild animals living in the natural open spaces that surround of our town. No one can protect them but us. (A great source for more info: poisonfreemalibu.org.)
Janine Robinson, Laguna Beach
