MARCH 14, 2025|
Photo – Ravens at landfill – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Rawlins, officials have decided not to cull the ravens at the city’s landfill this year.
At the March 4th Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey explained the landfill staff have asked for the raven cull not to be performed this year. Sarvey said a hiatus this year will give the city additional time to develop nonlethal methods to keep the birds away from the dump.
Once a year, city officials have typically asked the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to remove the large flocks of ravens that gather and roost at the landfill and transfer station. The birds are considered a danger to other wildlife, such as sage grouse. The droppings from the ravens contain toxins that are harmful to humans. Game and Fish, in conjunction with the United Stated Department of Agriculture, uses bait containing a bird-specific toxin, known as DRC-1339, to kill the ravens.
The city’s annual raven cull has been a source of debate among residents, with some feeling that the method used to kill the birds is cruel.
Last April, a resident of the city, Christine Ford, acknowledged that ravens are harmful to both humans and other animals. However, Ford disagreed with the use of avicide, saying that ravens may store poisoned food in locations accessible to other wildlife. Additionally, Ford accused the Department of Agriculture of using inaccurate computer modeling to justify its culling methods.
In December of 2022, city residents took to social media after finding dead ravens in their yards following an unannounced culling at the Rawlins landfill. The city’s Public Information Officer, Mira Miller, explained the avicide is only harmful in doses greater than those found in the dead ravens.
Residents have asked the city to use nonlethal methods to remove the ravens from the landfill.
At the March 4th Rawlins city council meeting, Councilwoman Tonya Lewman said she was under the impression that the Wyoming Game and
Fish Department decided when the raven cull will take place. The councilmember asked if the number of ravens was a concern this year.
City Manager Tom Sarvey said the ravens always present a danger to the landfill staff. However, Sarvey said he believes the city is responsible for asking Game and Fish to initiate the cull.
City Manager Sarvey said the ravens are still creating a problem at the landfill. Before killing the birds, however, Sarvey said he would like to find a way to prevent the ravens from congregating at the dump.
Nonlethal methods of controlling the raven population include sound cannons, falconers, and contraceptives to render their eggs unviable. However, the most likely solution is for the city to install garage doors at the transfer station to keep the birds out.
