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The original article can be found on SFGate.com here
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Friday, March 16, 2007 (SF Chronicle)
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SAN FRANCISCO Groups debate poison use after 3 hawks die, 1 survives
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer
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A large red-shouldered hawk that nearly died from a rat pesticide used in
Golden Gate Park will be released today by wildlife workers.
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The female bird, noted for its white-barred rusty breast and hunting
prowess, is the only one of four hawks to survive after eating rodents
that had consumed toxic bait.
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Wildlife groups are publicizing the rehabilitated bird's release to
pressure the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to stand behind
city claims that it uses pesticides on municipal property only as a last
resort.
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The groups -- Defenders of Wildlife, the American Bird Conservancy and
others -- also oppose "single-use" rodent poisons, which are so lethal
that one bite immediately kills an animal. Left in the open, it can be
eaten by predators such as hawks, falcons, eagles, skunks, raccoons, and
even dogs and cats.
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The bird found dead most recently was discovered Wednesday near the
Japanese Tea Garden, according to Jamie Ray, director of San Francisco
ROMP, Rescued Orphan Mammal Program. The wildlife rehabilitation program
is often called to pick up or aid the poisoned animals.
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"For the sake of killing a few outdoor rats, they are killing hawks, the
animals that are providing us with free rodent control," Ray said. Three
hawks and one red fox have been found dead in the park since bait boxes
were put in the San Francisco Botanical Garden 15 months ago, she said.
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"The rats are a huge problem for us," said parks department spokeswoman
Rose Dennis.
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There are 100 boxes in city parks around the city, all using the
single-use pesticide, she said.
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Phil Rossi, director of the park's pest-management program, determines
placement of the boxes. He cut the number of boxes within Golden Gate Park
in February when he heard of a hawk death, she said.
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Thirty-six of the city's 100 bait boxes are in Golden Gate Park.
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Debbie Raphael, toxics-reduction coordinator for the city's Department of
the Environment, said its pest management committee in April will consider
banning the chemicals' use on municipal property. Department Director
Jared Blumenfeld could declare a temporary moratorium until the commission
votes, she said.
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Ray said the first bait boxes were placed in the San Francisco Botanical
Garden in December 2005. One was put in the lathe house and one outside
the nursery.
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"Within the first week, the first red-tailed hawk died. Within the second
week, the second red-tailed hawk died. And within the third week, a red
fox was found bleeding out. That's when I was called in," Ray said.
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Ray said she called Rossi in January 2006. He removed several boxes from
the botanical garden, and the deaths stopped, Ray said.
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But in January 2007, Rossi put out boxes again at the garden's nursery,
Ray said.
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"Within one week, this red-shouldered hawk was brought in poisoned. The
hawk had been seen by a visitor sweeping down and grabbing a rodent. It
was so debilitated it could hardly breathe," she said. She took the bird
to WildCare, a San Rafael rehabilitation center, on Jan. 26.
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At WildCare, Melanie Piazza, director of animal care, said lab work
confirmed that the hawk had been poisoned by difethialone, a "single-use"
bait. Different formulations of single-use pesticides include brodifacoum
and bromadiolone.
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She and others who have cared for the bird with Vitamin K injections and
feeding tubes are eager for its release.
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"Breeding season is right now," Piazza said. "We want to make sure she
doesn't miss her chance to have her babies this year."
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