Ban Rodenticide Use

A young healthy mountain lion roams freely in the Santa Monica Mountains, breeding and seeking prey, even photographed in front of the famous Hollywood sign. Then he disappears for a week, no one has seen him, his radio collar shows little movement. Then he is spotted, weak, staggering, and very thin. This mountain Lion (P22) has eaten a rodent that was killed by a poison, and the effects transferred to the mountain lion, dangerously affecting his health.

The Sierra Club is taking part in a coalition to ban the use of rodenticides in the Santa Monica Mountains. Our Poison-Free Santa Monica Mountains Coalition seeks to have every local government body within the area ban the use and sale of rodenticides. So far the city of Malibu has made a ban of use and sale. The recently adopted Santa Monica Mountains Land Use Plan has also prohibited the use of rodenticides in its coastal area.

The Los Padres Chapter coalition will now go before the city councils of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Calabasas seeking their support to protect wildlife.

Rodenticides need to be banned within the entire state. These products needlessly kill wildlife. Plenty of nonpoisonous means are available to control rodents.

The Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club hopes Santa Barbara County will get behind a ban on the use and sale of rodenticides in your community. In Ventura County, the City of Ojai banned the use of rodenticides within city limits. Is your city or county next?

Mountain lion P22 is recovering. He was fortunate this time, but other animals and birds of prey have not been so fortunate.