Wildlife rescue warns against using rat poison after East Lake dogs ingest rodenticide
Rodent poison runoff concerns in East Lake area
Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue is sounding the alarm over the use of rat poison, especially during rainy season. FOX 13's Kailey Tracy reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - Wildlife experts in the Tampa Bay Area are warning residents about the hazards of rat poison after two dogs ingested rodenticide.
East Lake rodenticide poison threat
The backstory:
Barbara Walker, a wildlife rehabilitator with Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue, said she was alerted to the incident after an East Lake resident saw her dogs eating rodenticide and rushed them to an emergency veterinarian. Walker also got calls about sick and dead squirrels and rats nearby.
She said the recent rain caused the rat poison to spread from an East Lake neighbor’s yard to other properties.
"Rodenticide poisoning ... can act rather quickly," Walker said. "Your dog may have a stomachache. It may not want to eat. It may be lethargic, or it may vomit, and if it vomits, especially a bright green color, that would be right away to the vet because prompt treatment can save animals that have ingested things they shouldn’t."
Courtesy: Barbara Walker
The poison can cause severe internal bleeding in pets and people.
Experts warn that rodenticide runoff can find its way into neighboring yards, water sources and delicate ecosystems like the nearby Brooker Creek Preserve.
Safe pest control alternatives
What you can do:
To prevent secondary poisoning and accidental exposures, experts recommend using traps instead of poison. If poison must be used, experts stress selecting types that are less likely to affect non-target species and ensuring it is contained.
Walker also warned if you see a dead animal, call her at 727-798-2385, or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922) to properly dispose of it. If another animal eats it, the poison will spread elsewhere.
"I am a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. I will come pick it up, and I will make sure that it gets frozen and then either tested or incinerated properly because of that secondary issue," Walker said.
FOX 13 reached out to the FWC regarding the East Lake incident and is waiting to hear back.
The Source: Information in this story is from Barbara Walker, a wildlife rehabilitator with Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue.