Raptors and Rodenticides

Support Independent, Public Benefit Journalism



Who We Are



The Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC) is a nonprofit, scientific and educational organization offering more than 30 years of insight, experience and leadership in the development and communication of least-toxic, sustainable, and environmentally sound Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. BIRC assists homeowners, farmers, cities, park and water districts, schools and pest control professionals in pesticide use reduction.

Our internationally respected journals, the IPM Practitioner and the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly, provide critical information for pesticide and public policy debates, and offer least-toxic and non-toxic solutions for pest problems. Honey Bee death and decline, the impact of systemic pesticides and genetically engineered crops, Tick control and Lyme disease and least-toxic solutions for the ubiquitous Argentine Ant are just a few of the topics covered in our award winning publications.

Through EcoWise Certified, BIRC provides training and certification for pest control professionals in greener methods of pest control. And anyone coping with a pest problem can receive free, expert advice through our online technical assistance service, Ask the Expert at http://www.birc.org.

For these and other achievements protecting public health and the environment, BIRC has received both the IPM Innovator Award from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the IPM Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th International IPM Symposium. For more information about BIRC, or to view our publications, please visit our website at http://www.birc.org.

Why This Campaign?



Raptors in the U.S.,Canada, France, Great Britain and elsewhere are dying from eating rodents poisoned with 2nd Generation Anticoagulants such as brodifacoum and bromadiolone. The relationship between rodenticides and raptor deaths and proposed solutions to the problem is the focus of the next issue of the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly. The careful and timely research and analysis that are the hallmarks of every Quarterly article will help inform decision makers trying to halt the proliferation of these deadly toxins into our environment. And it’s not just about restricting anti-coagulants, it’s showing how humane rodent control can be achieved through sound site management. An excerpt from the article-in-progress is printed below.

Article Excerpt:


Much of the information about raptor deaths is coming from government surveillance programs. For instance, anticoagulant rodenticides were found in the livers of 48% of 265 raptors collected in New York. Of those exposed, anticoagulants were related to their deaths in about 22% of the cases (Stone et al. 2003. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 70:34-40). Also, 37% of 351 owls in Great Britain and 70% of 164 owls in Canada had detectable concentrations of anticoagulant rodenticides in their livers (Ratner et al. 2011. Environ. Toxicol. and Chem. 30(5):1213-1222). Concentrations in at least 21% of the Canadian owls were large enough to be life threatening (Albert et al. 2010. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 58:451-459).

Raptors are dying from direct poisoning effects, but also sublethal exposures are making them more susceptible to disease and accidents (Lemus et al. 2011. Science Total Environ. 409:4729-4734).

Wildcare, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Marin County, CA, is seeing poisoning in 58% of the bird and mammal patients. In Massachusetts, of 161 raptors admitted to a wildlife clinic, 86% had brodifacoum anticoagulant residues in their livers (Murray. 2011. J. of Zoo Wildlife Med. 42(1):88-97).

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife has seen 284 cases of second generation anticoagulant poisoning, including 37 raptors and 50 endangered San Joaquin kit foxes since 1993.

Cases from surveillance programs are likely the tip of the iceberg, as many bird poisonings go unnoticed as the corpses decay quickly in out of the way locations.

While the IPM Practitioner,with its focus on structural pest control and agriculture, is well supported by advertisers providing IPM products and services, the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly, with an emphasis on reduced risk pest management and pesticide policy of interest to the general public, attracts relatively few advertisers.

For the past few years, lack of adequate support for the Quarterly has resulted in publication delays and combined issues. Though many of our publications are available online, BIRC is committed to offering a small number of print issues to serve the needs of some libraries, to bridge the technology gap that still exists in our country as well as abroad, and to provide copies for community outreach events.

The cost of each edition, including research, writing, editing, layout, printing and distribution is approximately $5,000. We are hoping that you discovered our crowdfunding website because of your interest in protecting threatened and endangered raptors from secondary poisonings. Can you help support this important work?

What We Can Give to You



We offer gratitude and incentives at every level of giving. Regardless of whether you can assist us with a contribution, we invite everyone to visit our website at www.birc.org. Eventually, everyone faces a pest problem and BIRC can provide you with an effective solution that helps protect your health and the health of the environment.

Each level of giving includes the incentives offered before, plus one new benefit. Every contribution is deeply appreciated.

American Kestrel $1-$9 acknowledgement in our new publication, Raptors and Rodenticides

Peregrine Falcon $10-$29 a complimentary copy of Raptors and Rodenticides

Red-Tailed Hawk $30-$49 a complimentary Associate Membership with BIRC, receiving the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly

Great Horned Owl $50-$99 a complimentary dual membership with BIRC, receiving the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly and the IPM Practitioner

Golden Eagle $100 or more, acknowledgement on our website

California Condor $1000 or more BIRC’s Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief, Dr. William Quarles, will give a 40 minute presentation on raptors and rodenticides with a question and answer period to your organization or community group, in person in the nine bay area counties, via Skype in locales beyond.

Thank You so much for your help. We hope to hear from you soon!


Recent Updates

Recent Donors

Recent Pledges