Editor:
Re: Corn starch is the key in eradicating rodents, letter to the editor, April 13
Thank you to Anna Muise for her letter regarding a method of mouse and rat control that’s not toxic to wildlife. We share her concerns about birds of prey consuming poisoned animals. However, we need to be cognizant of the cruelty involved when we choose to kill invasive wildlife.
Rats and mice suffer just as much as any other animal (including birds of prey) when they’re poisoned. Most substances that are ingested, including those that are not toxic to other wildlife, cause indescribable cruelty as the animal dies a slow, agonizing death of internal bleeding or blockage of their digestive systems. Neither are glue traps the answer as they cause animals to die slowly of starvation, dehydration and extreme stress.
I recognize, however, that it’s sometimes necessary to control these opportunistic animals. The kindest way to do so is to exclude them as much as possible, including closing up their entry points and not leaving compost for them to eat or piles of wood scraps in which they can nest.
I personally have had much success with ultrasonic repellents in each level of my cottage. Ultimately, as a last resort, quick-kill snap traps are the most humane lethal method to deal with uncontrollable intrusions.
Debra Probert
Executive Director
Vancouver Humane Society
