December 22, 2022 |
During the public comment section of the Rawlins City Council meeting Tuesday night, a local resident raised concerns and questions about the kill-off of ravens at the municipal landfill over the weekend. The cull was conducted by USDA Wildlife Services at the request of the city to reduce the population of the scavenger birds. The kill-off was scheduled but not announced.
Christine Cruze, like many residents who discovered dead birds in her yard, was alarmed by the incident.
A group of ravens is commonly referred to as an “unkindness” because of the birds’ reputation of expelling their young from nests before they are developed enough to fend for themselves.
Many of the ravens targeted in last week’s kill-off died on private properties after being poisoned with DRC-1339 set up in baits at the landfill. Residents discovered the dead birds and had no clue about what to do.
Cruze questioned how the city could be compliant with rules and regulations regarding the culling of the ravens to stem their population if no public announcement was made before it happened or if other, non-lethal measures, were attempted first.
Cruze described herself as a hunter and a conservationist who understood the reason behind the culling. The ravens themselves present their own set of risks to people and livestock. However, Cruze said she the problem could have been dealt in other ways.
A 2001 study of the starlicide conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln does is acknowledge that while it is possible that a cat or owl could ingest a lethal dose of DRC-1339, it likely would only happen if they were fed birds poisoned by the compound exclusively for more than 100 days. The actual risk, the study concludes, is normally minimal because exposure to DRC1339-poisoned birds occurs over a few weeks or less.
The study also states that to reduce any potential hazard, poisoned birds should be retrieved then burned or buried whenever possible.
Cruz concluded her four-minute, researched presentation with a series of questions.
Council typically does not address presenters during the public comment portion of meetings. The topic did come later. Councilman Chris Weisenberg said he was as unaware as anyone of the culling.
City Attorney Gwendolyn Wade took responsibility for how last weekend’s culling played out.
City staff told Bigfoot 99 in response to a written question that Rawlins has previously requested USDA Wildlife Services to conduct common raven control work at the landfill. This has included both non-lethal and non-lethal methods as part of an integrated wildlife damage management approach.
The use of the avicide DR-1339 is highly controlled. Applications are ony authorized between October and April each year.
Handling is restricted to USDA personnel trained in bird control due to its high acute inhalation toxicity and eye and skin corrosiveness to eye and skin corrosiveness in its raw, powdered form. Directions for use include wearing personal protective equipment to collect carcasses to reduce the potential for exposure. Land managers are directed to clean up carcasses and dying birds within 72 hours of application.
Raven population control actions at the landfill are anticipated to continue through January.
