Conservationists ‘hooting’ for new pest control pilot project using owls in London, Ont.
Global News
Local conservation groups are suggesting the use of owls instead of poison with the launch of a new pilot project in London, Ont.
When Londoners have a rodent problem, ‘hoot’ are they going to call? Local conservation groups are suggesting the use of owls instead of poison with the launch of a new pilot project.
The Responsible Pest Management Pilot Program is looking at exploring environmentally friendly solutions to pest control with the installation of owl boxes around participating residences and businesses to house Eastern screech owls that will hunt rodents.
The project was created in a partnership between three organizations: Ontario Wildlife Removal Inc., Bird Friendly London and Green Economy London.
“Responsible pest management is something that we’ve been practising as a company for years,” said Jared Houliston, president of Ontario Wildlife Removal. “We don’t use rodenticides or poisons or anything of that nature because we see the contamination that’s happening to other wildlife. People poisoning rats and mice thinking they’re solving the problem are actually poisoning other wildlife that eat these animals, which then causes a detrimental effect.”
According to Green Economy London, local animal rehabilitation centres, such as the Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, treat “many animals that suffer from secondary rodenticide poisoning,” saying their patients “represent just a tiny fraction of wildlife being affected in our region.”
Additionally, the group stressed that if used alone, “rodenticides offer limited protection against future infestations.”
“Rodents can multiply very quickly and if they are able to enter a building and find food, they will keep coming back and replacing others killed by poison,” the organization explained in a statement. “It is important to address the causes of rodents entering buildings in the first place.”
Houliston agreed, adding that “with this pilot project, we’re promoting the fact that that we can solve a lot of the problems without these rodenticides or poisons by securing and fixing the house.”