Friends of Griffith Park continues to initiate and promote projects that will enhance the visitor experience and those that support the Park’s wildlife and habitat

GRIFFITH PARK MERRY-GO-ROUND
As strange as it sounds, the privately-owned historic 1926 Stillman carousel sits inside a building owned by the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP). Due to co-owner Julio Gosdinski’s death at the age of 49 in 2020, his 50% ownership still rests in the hands of the probate court.

Even so, the beloved merry-go-round operated sporadically during the COVID-19 pandemic, until a very expensive mechanical repair shuttered this affordable, favorite attraction. Unfortunately, until there is a resolution in the court case, little can be done to address the mechanical problems and reopen the ride.

FoGP continues to see strong interest in keeping this rich piece of history alive in Griffith Park. To reiterate, FoGP is anxious to see RAP acquire ownership of the carousel and will help in this effort.

Parents of young children regularly reach out and ask us when it might reopen. Sadly, kids will miss another holiday season of riding this mighty four-abreast horse carousel. The ride was inspirational for Walt Disney, and has enthralled thousands of youngsters over the nearly nine decades it has resided in the Park. Julio’s smiling face and passion made it even more inviting in recent decades.

GRIFFITH PARK PONY RIDES
Another favorite and affordable Park attraction – the pony rides – was placed on hiatus in late 2022. RAP hired an outside consultant, PlaceWorks, to manage the controversy with the public about live animal rides. Public outreach for “Reimagining the Pony Rides Site” conducted by the consultant has ended, and their formal report was delivered to RAP Commissioners on September 16, 2024.

The report gives no answers. Instead, it exhibits loads of input collected from the public via various methods. The “statistically valid survey” is compelling and states that a fair representation of L.A.’s demographics indicate that 70% of the public favor pony rides being offered to children with only 16% opposed.

The report cites a variety of possible uses for the 3.5-acre venue, with or without pony rides being a part of the final choice. Seven case studies of activities within California, ranging from no-animal interaction to primarily animal interaction facilities, illustrate the possibilities for the site’s future. The case studies also explore business models, management structures, capital investment, and construction time for each option.

At the September Commission meeting, no deliberations occurred, although questions from L.A. Park Commission’s President Renata Simril were answered. One question was whether there was a “strategic plan” for Griffith Park, and the response was, “not at this time.” However, A Vision for Griffith Park which provides an important document to guide Griffith Park, was not part of the discussion.

It was made clear that a decision might be a combination of activities from the case models presented. No timeline was given for this important topic to return to the Commission for final decisions regarding the venue.

The complete report, as well as detailed information on the path of outreach along the way can be accessed online.

LOS ANGELES ZOO EXPANSION
Litigation filed jointly by Friends of Griffith Park and the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust on September 13, 2023, has not yet been resolved. The deadline for the City Attorney to present the Administrative Record has been extended several times by the Court, due to its depth and considering the possibility of settlement.

The suit, based upon the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), targets the massive excavation of an unnatural 60-ft deep “man-made canyon,” an 18,000 sq. ft. visitor center on top of a high ridgeline, and the loss of native habitat containing rare and sensitive flora, along with 26 City-protected trees/shrubs.

ALCOHOL POLICY ADOPTED
FoGP remains concerned that in March of 2024, RAP expanded the opportunity for approved events to serve alcohol. In the adopted Revised Alcohol Policy, an “unlimited number of open area events” can be authorized by the RAP General Manager.

A second concern is that RAP expanded the currently-allowed beer and wine policy to include all liquor for these events.

We have suggested that Griffith Park’s “Wilderness Area,” which is delineated in the Historic-Cultural Monument documents, be precluded from potential “open area alcohol events” locations. FoGP has also reminded decision-makers that 800 acres burned in 2007, and an average of about a dozen reported fires per year are extinguished in Griffith Park. It has been shown repeatedly that alcohol is tied to carelessness and people falling asleep while smoking, contrary to the Park’s strict no smoking rules.

Loosening the Alcohol Policy is truly an environmental issue for Griffith Park with management’s extraordinary authority to permit alcohol in outdoor events. Currently, RAP struggles with budget reductions and insufficient staffing. We believe RAP is interested in having a standard policy throughout all its 450-plus properties and needs to raise revenue any way it can. However, standard policy does not fit the reality for Griffith Park or other regional parks in RAP’s holdings.

FERN DELL WROUGHT-IRON FENCE / PHASE 3
When FoGP completed the attractive, historically-accurate (1920s) pedestrian bridge in 2019, the rusty chain-linked fencing surrounding the bridge became a horrific eyesore in comparison. It was up to our organization to make improvements since stretched-thin City dollars were unavailable.

Through fund-matching with generous donors, especially nearby residents, FoGP was able to complete the first two sections during 2020 and 2021. Our goal now – to encircle the entire area from the north side of the new bridge to the south to create a large loop with two gates that are secured at night.

The contractor FoGP used for Phases 1 and 2 did superb work. This year, while committed to Phase 3, the final and longest stretch, we en- countered a series of “red tape” bumps – even though we had already secured funding for the project completion! Fortunately, persistence paid off and we were able to work out issues over the course of several months.

We hope all Park visitors will enjoy this new section along the 200-ft long pathway that connects lower and upper Fern Dell, east of the bridges. Now, instead of dilapidated chain-link fence, you’ll find a more attractive, friendlier wrought-iron fence. Matching funds from our close partner, the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust, made this project possible.

ORIGINAL TILE ROOF RETURNS TO THE FERN DELL COMFORT STATION
Some may think a restroom could not possibly be considered a historic feature, however; Fern Dell’s 1926-era “comfort station” is something everyone can embrace!

Constructed in the Spanish Colonial style, this structure boasted period-defining details that have been lost over the decades. Ironically, shortly after the Park’s designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2009, the terracotta tiled roof was replaced with asphalt shingles while our attention was elsewhere.

With approvals by the L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks, FoGP has been allowed to restore the roof back to its historic look. Our chosen contractor, Roof Repair Specialists, did a fantastic job. We hope you agree!

Although the vertical, lathed wood spindles were another striking and distinct detail of the original comfort station, FoGP was not permitted to incorporate them at this time. Eventually, we hope to reincorporate them, at least, in the openings above the doors.

MEASURE W PROJECT / FERN DELL
Our largest potential project of all involves flowing water in Fern Dell. Engineering consultant Craftwater, Inc., continues the Feasibility Study for the Fern Dell Rehabilitation and Stormwater Capture Project. The one-year study grant was awarded through the County’s Safe, Clean Water Program.

Recently FoGP learned that the County will postpone the annual “call for projects.” As a result, this Feasibility Study Phase will continue for another year, but has been elevated to a higher level of design, 30% rather than 10%. Additional program funding of roughly $40,000 will allow Craftwater to further develop conceptual and technical scopes. Even though this project will be delayed a year, we remain optimistic it will be elevated to full Design Phase.

Our vision for this project – to rehabilitate Fern Dell and improve the water quality that’s being discharged from the area and eventually flows into Ballona Creek. Stormwater capture and diversion from the existing City storm drain system, along with water storage and reuse are high priority goals.

Recirculation of stored water to the upper Fern Dell streambed, most often bone dry, is another goal that will benefit visitors’ experience, as well as tree and habitat health.

There are many possibilities for Fern Dell: an enhanced parking lot with a permeable surface, appropriate landscaping, historic trail restoration, and the gift of a renewed irrigation system.

~Gerry Hans, FoGP president

More important than breaking records, we had the opportunity to analyze data on a species-by-species basis to shed light on territory re-use, non-breeding pairs, nest takeovers, nest switches (takeovers by other species), and more. The goal of the study is to understand the year-to-year trends and to discover the forces at work involving our local raptors in the Los Angeles area. Apex predators play an important role in the ecosystem, especially in our complex urban setting where human influences can alter balances. What better place than Los Angeles to study urban raptors?

In late September, the LA Raptor Study 2024 Final Report was presented to a well-attended audience via Zoom. The Study represents the only comprehensive dataset of an entire breeding raptor community within the urban core of Los Angeles, per Dr. Dan Cooper (Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc.), who directed the launch of the Study in 2017.

Nurit Katz, the Study’s Outreach Coordinator, has elevated communication and education capabilities with our volunteers and the public since 2022. Nurit was a raptor study volunteer, monitoring nests prior to her taking on her current role, and she is also employed as UCLA’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

The study has become a recognized model for “community science” within Los Angeles, with clear scientific goals and plethora of data being collected by community scientist volunteers who undergo training on scientific methods.

Apply to Volunteer in 2025

Details for participating in the study are discussed on FoGP’s “Raptor Study & Resources” webpage where you can also find a link to a Volunteer Application. In January, registered volunteers are invited to a virtual training session and a field training workshop held in early February. Nest assignments are then made. Dan, Nurit, and myself also help orient new volunteers at their assigned nest sites.

Since Cooper’s Hawks are late-nesters and present special challenges in tracking, a second virtual session and field training are offered specifically for this species in April. Cooper’s Hawk nest assignments are made for ambitious, willing volunteers, and nearly all volunteers want one!

Study Result Highlights in 2024

650 raptor territories were rechecked or discovered across the study area, representing 239 Cooper’s territories (vs. 222 in 2023), 215 Red-tailed Hawk territories (vs. 184 in 2023), 57 Red-shouldered Hawk territories (vs. 55 in 2023), 105 Great Horned Owl territories (vs. 84 in 2023), as well as a handful of territories of American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl and Western Screech-owl.

While not all of these territories were found to be active in 2024, the numbers continue to closely reflect the maximum number of territories in the study area, thanks to increased effort and our growing knowledge of local species ecology. The study puts focus on the territories of breeding pairs which, for the most part, mate for life, but don’t necessarily use the same nests from year to year.

Fledge Rates

We define Fledge Rate results as fledged nests for territories tracked; the fledge rate of active nests, on the other hand, is extremely high, with few failures once birds start incubating. Convergence of the Fledge Rate this year for the three focal hawk species is interesting and unexpected, considering they were quite different in the previous few years:

• Red-tailed Hawk: 127 nests fledged from 169 active territories (75%). This fledging rate saw a return to average after the higher rates of 2020 and 2021 and lower rates in 2022 and 2023.

• Cooper’s Hawk: 88 nests fledged from 113 active territories (78%). This rate of success was slightly below the average across the past five years, up from the last two years.

• Red-shouldered Hawk: 27 nests fledged from 36 active territories (75%). This proportion is higher than the prior two years and the 5-year average, but lower than in 2020.

• Great Horned Owl: The analysis for this species changed this year, because we added new territories based upon more than only active nests found, ­such as pairs that duet. We found that 40 nests fledged from 58 territories, but any comparison to previous years would be invalid.

Territory Re-occupancy

Red-tailed Hawks kept their amazing and steady territory re-occupancy rate of 80%. The other two hawk species’ re-occupancy rates have been more variable over the years of study. Red-shouldered Hawks were around 75% in 2024. The lowest rates were for Cooper’s Hawks at roughly 65%, which is well above the previous two-year 50% average territory re-occupancy rate. Only these hawk species were included in this analysis. There are plans to dig deeper into the data to explore nest structure re-use, in addition to focusing on territory re-use.

Nest Productivity

While there was a significant increase across all four major species in the total number of fledged young, nest productivity rate is measured as the mean number of chicks hatched from successful active nests (with failed/abandoned nests excluded). Interestingly, this metric peaked in 2019 across our four species. There is no explanation. It is possible that two very wet winters was not enough to overcome the previous drought trend in place, and we continue to explore possible correlations with seasonal weather.

Over the study period (2017-2024), mean nest productivity number (chicks per nest) varied in a fairly tight range of 1.8 for Red-shouldered Hawks to a high of 2.5 for Cooper’s Hawks.

Our Special Species

There is limited data from the study on the rarer local raptor species, including American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Western Screech-owl.

The study closely tracks one peregrine pair in Griffith Park. Two other peregrine nest locations were confirmed on top of high buildings this year where juvenile rescues took place. Several other tall structures are also suspected host sites for nesting, but collecting data is difficult due to building management challenges. We plan to put more effort to following these peregrines in coming years.

Cavity-nesting American Kestrels also prove challenging, but one residential-area nest in Boyle Heights was monitored and another territory in Sepulveda Basin was confirmed with four post-fledged juveniles observed.

Work done by students under the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability Senior Practicum, with FoGP as their client, addressed breeding owl species including Barn Owls and Western Screech-owls. Students successfully contributed with nocturnal field surveys and predictive distribution modeling. More detail is available on FoGP’s raptor webpage.

Nest Disturbance and Tree Trimming

A new focus of the study involves documenting nest disturbances such as nests lost to wind, tree-trimming or trees being chopped down. It is illegal to trim out nests even when it is done between nesting seasons. It is also illegal to disturb active nests in any manner which may adversely affect reproductive success. We have observed that the destruction of nests is often unintentional on the part of residents.

In 2024, to address the significant trimming issues observed, we created signs to place on accessible nest trees. The signs include information about applicable laws protecting nests. Template letters were also created to inform homeowners and area residents of nests on their properties. These measures represent a proactive educational approach to prevent loss of nests.

Another disturbance involves loss of raptors through secondary poisoning by rodenticides. We hope that the California bans on two classes of anticoagulants will alleviate the senseless death of raptors that ironically serve a vital role in rodent control. FoGP and many other organizations have fought hard for these legislative actions; we’re finally nearing the goal line.

The Raptor Study family of participants celebrated a fantastic year of accomplishments at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held in Griffith Park this fall. FoGP thanks our volunteers, our talented science team, and the public agencies that provided access and services, along with L.A. residents who provided so many great tips! Let’s keep up the momentum!

~ Gerry Hans
photo: Gerry Hans

For more than a decade, Friends of Griffith Park (FoGP) has sponsored the testing of raptors and mammals found dead in and around the Park for exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. These results, in combination with studies across California, have demonstrated that dozens of mammal and raptor species are routinely ingesting rodenticides by eating poisoned rodents. Most research on the impacts of rodenticides on non-target wildlife has focused on mammals and raptors.

Although snakes are major rodent consumers, only a few studies around the globe have examined whether snakes are also ingesting rodenticides. An ongoing study conducted at the Natural History
Museum of Los Angeles County, and partially funded by FoGP, is helping to address this lack of information. Early results demonstrate that multiple snake species are also routinely exposed to these toxins.

What are Anticoagulant Rodenticides and How Do They Impact Non-target Animals?

A common way to try to limit rodent populations in agricultural areas or around structures is to use anticoagulant rodenticides. Once ingested, these toxins prevent blood from clotting. Exposed rodents die due to internal bleeding several days after ingestion. Non-target animals that prey or scavenge upon these dead or dying rodents can then get exposed as well (termed secondary poisonings). Many types of anticoagulant rodenticides will bioaccumulate, or build up in a predator or scavenger over the course of multiple exposures, and can then cause illness or death.

The above scenario should sound familiar to those who followed Griffith Park’s resident mountain lion, P-22. As a four-year old, P-22 was found in 2014 suffering from mange and with high levels of anticoagulant rodenticides. Exposure to rodenticides is known to weaken the immune system, with mange being a common outcome for coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions. Following his death, P-22 was once again found to have been exposed to multiple anticoagulant rodenticides and was again suffering from mange.

Are Snakes Also Getting Exposed to Rodenticides?

Southern California has been a hotspot for research into secondary poisonings from rodenticides. Research results have caused the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to enact bans on multiple rodenticides, sometimes banning public use and other times banning use by both the public and by professional applicators. Nevertheless, some anticoagualant rodenticides are still available for use in California. Increased awareness of the species impacted by rodenticides could help to influence future policy on rodenticide use.

Because rodenticide exposure was common in studies of SouthernCalifornia mammals and raptors, I began wondering whether snakes might also be consuming poisoned rodents. About a decade ago, I started keeping salvaged snakes from areas where rodenticide exposure seemed possible.

As Curator of Herpetology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, I have developed a network of people who salvage roadkilled snakes. Over the years, freezers at the museum started
filling up with roadkilled snakes that might one day be used for rodenticide testing. The challenge was to find funding to test these specimens. In early 2023, Gerry Hans, on behalf of the FoGP Board, reached out to the Museum to suggest a partnership to fund rodenticide testing of local wildlife. Around the same time, the Museum was awarded a research training grant from the National Science Foundation that included funds to support research by early-career scientists. With funding now available, we could finally defrost and sample the frozen snakes for rodenticide testing.

Over the past few months, I worked with museum researcher Taylor Vasquez to do exactly this. Early results are now in, and over 30% of the snakes tested positive for rodenticides, including the following species: California kingsnake, gopher snake, coachwhip, Southern Pacific rattlesnake, and Southwestern speckled rattlesnake. Four snakes tested positive for multiple rodenticides.

This ongoing study highlights the negative impacts of using anticoagulant rodenticides to control rodents—numerous native species, including coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, and snakes, also end up being poisoned. As native predator populations decline from unintentional poison exposure, pest populations are likely to increase making people even more dependent on pest control efforts.
The best way to simultaneously control rodents and also protect the wildlife that would otherwise help limit rodent populations is to use mechanical traps specifically designed for mice and rats. Avoiding rodenticides will help our native predatory species and also decrease the chance that a family dog or cat is also exposed to rodenticides by consuming a poisoned rodent.

The snake study will continue through this summer. We will increase the number of specimens tested, the number of species examined, and the geographic coverage of the sampling. Stay tuned for an update in a future issue of this newsletter.

~Dr. Greg Pauly, Natural History Museum of LA County

Dr. Greg Pauly is Curator of Herpetology and Director of the Urban Nature Research Center at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He studies the ecology, evolution, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians, including the Blainville’s horned lizards found in Griffith Park. He also leads the Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern California (RASCALS) project on the iNaturalist community science platform.

SEE ROADKILLED SNAKES?

Through Fall 2024, we are looking to add more snakes to the rodenticide study. With temperatures warming, snakes are on the move. Unfortunately, this means that some snakes will be found dead along roads. Fresh roadkills can be salvaged and potentially used for rodenticide testing.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you can safely approach a roadkilled snake (please be careful around traffic), take a photo of the snake, and email that photo to Gerry Hans (Gerry@friendsofgriffithpark.org) and Greg Pauly (gpauly@nhm.org) with a detailed description of the location (best if you can provide an address or allow your phone to log latitude/longitude coordinates with your photo).

If the snake is not venomous, you can also move it to a shady spot so it doesn’t continue to get run over. If the snake is venomous, please do not handle it in any way. We are looking for snakes from the Griffith Park area; we also encourage reports of roadkills elsewhere in our Greater Los Angeles area. When possible, Gerry, Greg or a Museum staffer will attempt to salvage the snake for study use.

To include in the study, salvaged snakes must be:
• A species that eats rodents.
• Within a half mile of houses, other buildings, or agricultural lands.
• In relatively good shape. If the snake is more than a day old, smells, or has been run over numerous times, its liver is probably too damaged for testing.
• Snakes cannot be juveniles. A rattlesnake needs to be at least 20 inches long. If any other species (for example, a gopher or king snake), the snake needs to be at least 24 inches long. In smaller snakes, the liver will be too small for testing.

Griffith Park is home to a strange plant by the common name of California Dodder (Cuscusta californica). Dodder can be found on every slope of the Park. Many people describe it as spaghetti or noodles that become entangled and twisted as it climbs onto the surrounding vegetation.

Dodder is very easy to spot because it´s not green but orange, which allows it to stand out from the adjacent vegetation. So why is it orange and not green like other plants? Dodder belong to a group of plants that decided to abandon the green pigment chlorophyll and the photosynthesis process for generating food. Rather than working, dodder steals the resources and water of other plants which makes this plant a type of parasite.

The life of a dodder plant starts with a seed that may be carried by birds or other organism; when the seed is deposited onto a stem or leaf of a host plant the seed will then grow. Upon germination, the seedling root known as the radicle will use force to penetrate the cuticle or skin of its host plant, thus making a connection with the vascular system of its host. Once the parasite establishes a connection with the vascular system of its host plant, dodder will begin to steal the water, food, vitamins and minerals from its host. Fueled by resources from the host plant, dodder will then begin to grow very rapidly and will twist and twine around adjacent vegetations, sometimes completely engulfing them. As the stems of dodder continue to wrap around other plants, new and further connections to the host vascular system are established.

After several months of growth, dodder eventually flowers and creates seeds that will be dispersed to other areas and these seeds will then find a new host and begin growing. Even though dodder is a parasitic plant, it´s still an important plant to the ecology of Griffith Park and should not be treated as a harmful organism. Dodder will flower during the hot summer months, providing native insects with a valuable meal and drink during the months when many other California native plants are dormant.

In Griffith Park´s natural setting, dodder may serve a purpose in Mother Nature´s grand plan, culling host plants — such as the abundant laurel sumac — which is weakened by its grip. It may not necessarily kill the whole host plant, but rather check its growth. In a monocultural, agricultural setting, on the other hand, it can be a real killer and a threat. But that´s not Griffith Park.­

~Jorge Ochoa is an associate professor of horticulture at Long Beach City College.
He often leads FoGP walks through Griffith Park
and occasional lectures on fauna found throughout the Park.
Ochoa is also one of the FoGP Advisors

Photos, from top, left: blooms are very petite.
Bottom: spaghetti-like strands weave their way into plants until the lifecycle is complete.

Griffith Park has been ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability and water recapturing. Long before it became a popular practice, the Park was employing modern practices.

One of the best examples is in Fern Dell. You´ve all seen the little stream that throughout much of the year has very little water in it. Have you noticed the old green shack on the east side of the road across from Black Oak Drive? That´s the old pump house for a water recirculating system. It used to capture water from the stream as it flowed from the west side of the road under Fern Dell Drive. A large pipe, still visible, fed water into the pump where it was pumped back up the hill and was released back into the stream somewhere above Trails Café. This made maximum use of the small amount of water that naturally flowed down the stream. The remainder of the water that was not captured continued down the stream on the east side of the road and disappeared into the storm drains on Los Feliz Blvd.

Friends of Griffith Park recently won a Technical Assistance grant from L.A. County´s Safe Clean Water project. Part of the plan is to replicate that old water recirculating system but with modern, more powerful pumps and smaller more efficient pipes. If the project is implemented, Fern Dell will once again have a steady flow of water in its stream.

And water that currently flows into the storm drain? Much of this water will be captured and stored in a huge underground storage tank that will be located under the grassy area behind the Berlin Bear. You´ll still be able to picnic or sunbathe on the grass, but the water that was captured below you will be used for irrigating the ferns in Fern Dell or replenishing the stream.

A remarkable amount of water runs down the street even during a relatively light rainfall. That´s because the watershed area in the canyon is so big. It drains everything from the Observatory down to Los Feliz, an area of 320 acres. The area above the Fern Dell parking lot includes a series of catch basins, built in the 1930s, which have two main functions. The first is to protect the Dell from mud flows during heavy rain storms. The second is to catch the rain water in giant basins where the rainwater will seep into the soil and replenish the aquifer.

Another large series of catch basins is located between the heliport and the Commonwealth Nursery. As you walk up Commonwealth to Vista del Valle and Cedar Grove, you may have noticed a beautiful stone mandala and thought it was just a lovely artistic creation. It is indeed that. Constructed by a very talented CCC team during the Depression, it is the final and largest catch basin in that series. If you look down on it from the heliport, you can see the various channels and basins that contained the flow of water.

Do catch basins really work? Indeed they do. The trick is that they need to be cleared of debris annually so that they will be able to handle the next storm. Sometimes a storm is so heavy that it overwhelms the system. In the early 1970s, heavy storms did exactly that. So much mud flowed down Fern Dell stream that it filled the stream bed to just under the small bridges. Crews had to hand dig out the mud. Many homeowners are using a similar system today to catch much of the rain that falls in their yards and lead it toward a rain garden, a low spot in your yard designed to capture the water and slowly replenish the aquifer.

The Commonwealth Nursery used to feature another example of water recapturing. Rain that fell on the roofs of the now-abandoned green houses was caught in gutters that fed into storage

You, too, can practice sustainability in your own yard, albeit on a smaller scale. You can create a rain garden. You can take water from your gutters and store it in rain barrels to use later to water your garden. Follow Griffith Park´s lead and become a good steward of water.­

~Marian Dodge, FoGP Board Member

News Flash: UPDATE ON AB 1322 / Nov. 1, 2023

On Oct. 13, 2023 Gov. Newsom signed this legislation into law after the bill passed through both CA Houses. The law will provide further protection of wildlife and it’s importance cannot be overstated — especially as the effects of rodenticides continue to wreck havoc, specifically raptors and nesting young.

According to the urban raptor conservancy website: the ubiquitous black boxes around commercial buildings, in alleys, and residences contain rat poisons like Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, and Diphethialone. If you look closely at the bait boxes; they´ll list the type of poison inside.

Positive exposure to Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ARs) has been found in 16 species of raptors, including 82% of Cooper’s Hawks, 72% of Red-tailed Hawks, and 59% of Barn Owls. Secondary rodenticide exposure will have far-reaching consequences on California´s nesting raptors. And other species are also affected; mountain lions, coyote, bobcats, and in Northern California, San Joaquin kit foxes are especially vulnerable.

Facts about rat extermination

We will never get rid of rats.
No method of rodent control is failsafe. If rat poison worked, we wouldn´t have to keep using it.
The harm caused by rodenticides far exceeds their limited benefits. There is no such thing as a ‘good’ rat poison.
If you must use a method to eliminate mice and rats around your residence, reach out to your pest control company and ask what method they use to trap the rodents.

A red-tailed hawk hovers aloft over the 101 in the midday sun, scanning a nearby hillside for signs of life. This raptor’s keen eyes catch the rustle of grass, a long tail disappearing into the vegetation: the telltale signs of a waiting meal. Pest control is on the clock, and this hardworking mom has mouths to feed back at her nest. She suddenly makes her move: wings tucked, in a steep dive heading straight for an unsuspecting rodent who today has the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Success! With lunch grasped tightly in her sharp talons, the hawk heads back to her hungry chicks, job well done.

But what she doesn’t know is that the now ex-rat in her grip is a ticking time bomb: because a few days ago that rat fed on what it thought was a tasty snack in a black box in the back alley of an apartment complex, and he’s been feeling sick ever since. His days were numbered even before the hawk’s shadow fell across his path. And now, when this hawk shares this meal with her chicks, the anticoagulant rodenticide concentrated in this rat’s organs will do just what it says on the box. In addition to killing the pest, it will kill the pest control too.

Hang on, I thought we banned rodenticides! It was all over the news.

You’re probably thinking of AB 1788; this bill, the California Ecosystems Protection Act, went into effect January 1, 2021 and was a big win for wildlife. The bill made the strong case for the harm caused by second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) to the very predators that are naturally working to control the rodent populations in the wild and in our cities. Prior to this bill, California had limited the over-the-counter sales of these SGARs in 2014, but studies conducted on wildlife in the intervening years showed no significant decrease in rodenticide exposures and associated deaths: not surprising, since SGARs were still widely in use by commercial pest control companies, and available via mail from online retailers. AB 1788 is an even stricter regulation of the use of SGARs; however, the bill makes several notable exceptions for public health activities, protecting water supply infrastructure, agricultural production and food storage facilities, medical waste facilities, and use on offshore islands to eradicate invasive species. So while it’s significantly harder for the average California consumer to procure SGARs or the services of pest control companies who utilize them, these deadly poisons are unfortunately still out there.

First generation? Second generation? What’s the difference?

First-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) were developed in the 1940s and 50s, and work by disrupting blood clotting, causing internal bleeding and eventual death over the course of a few days to a couple weeks. FGARs like diphacinone or chlorophacinone are still widely available for consumer purchase. You might remember the shocking photo of our late great celebrity cat P-22, back in 2014 when he was captured and treated for mange; tests revealed he had both of the aforementioned FGARs in his system. Rodenticide poisoning weakens an animal’s immune system, and this parasitic skin condition is one of the ways it can present.

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are more potent than first-generation, and may only require one feeding to be fatal. These blood-thinning toxins include brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone, and all cause massive hemorrhaging and death within several days. However, the toxins themselves have a half-life of over 100 days and so their potency persists as they work their way up the food chain to apex predators. The average person or company putting out these poison baits is thinking only about solving the immediate problem at hand: when in fact, poisoning the ecosystem has the opposite effect in the long-term, actually increasing the population of rodents by eliminating their predators. These predators have a much slower reproduction rate than their prey, so in the time it takes to replace one apex predator lost to rodenticide, many more rapidly reproducing rodents will have set up shop in your neighborhood.

But I see those black boxes all over the city and my neighborhood. Don’t the rodents get trapped inside after they’ve eaten the bait? How are predators eating them?

Contrary to popular belief, these bait boxes aren’t rat coffins. They are designed so that rodents can go in and out, returning to feed on the bait multiple times and/or bringing back bait to their young. And once the now-poisoned rodents leave these boxes, they often present an easy meal to the neighborhood cat or great-horned owl as they weaken, succumbing to the poison’s effects. These bait boxes may say they’re tamper-proof, safe for pets and children, but on average every year in the United States, tens of thousands of children and pets accidentally consume rat poison.

But my pest control company says their methods are safe!

“Safe poison” is an oxymoron: if a pest control company tells you their product is non-toxic, check to see if it contains any of these FGARs like diphacinone and chlorophacinone, or the nerve toxin bromethalin, all of which are still available to consumers. Even though the FGARs are less potent and slower acting than SGARs, they still have potentially lethal capacity if consumed directly or indirectly by children, pets and wildlife. Bromethalin, which acts by way of causing respiratory distress and death within 24-48 hours, is lethal if consumed directly.

I just discovered I have mice in my house! What am I supposed to do now if I can’t use rodenticides?

OK, so you heard the distinctive skitter of tiny rodent feet in your walls, or found their dreaded droppings in your cupboard. Don’t go reaching for the poison! First: focus on exclusion. How are the mice getting into your home? Seal up any entry points. Trim tree limbs and vegetation away from walls and the roof. Reduce the amount of welcoming rodent shelter available around the house like woodpiles and ivy. What’s attracting them to your home? Keep your trash bins closed; make sure you’re not leaving pet food out; clean up birdseed from the ground under your feeders. Old-fashioned snap traps are still a quick and efficient way to control unwanted houseguests; newer electronic traps work well, although these traps are more expensive. NEVER use glue traps: they are a slow, inhumane way for any animal to die, and non-target wildlife like birds and lizards often get stuck by accident. If you’re looking to hire a pest control company, ask around for one that practices Integrated Pest Management and verify that they aren’t using poisons. Some companies are also beginning to implement rodent birth control as a non-toxic strategy for long-term population reduction. And, if all that doesn’t have you convinced, an unintended consequence of using rodenticides is that this out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach may result in a decaying rat in your walls: it may be out of sight but certainly not out of scent.

The rodent problem in our city is of our own making, but it’s a problem we can solve with the aid of our furred, feathered, and scaly neighbors: and without anticoagulant rodenticides. Help us protect current and future generations of our all-natural pest control. Let the predators do their job, and leave the poison on the shelf.

You’re preaching to the choir. I already don’t use rodenticides and love watching the wildlife in my neighborhood. What else can I do to help?

One great way to help the wildlife in your neighborhood is to cultivate native plant habitat where you live: no matter how small the space: to increase the biodiversity of your area and connect to other nearby habitats, thus creating your own version of a wildlife corridor and providing natural sources of food and shelter for your local animals.

On the subject of food, do not feed wildlife! Maybe you saw someone hand-feeding their illegal pet raccoon on social media and you thought it looked cute, but raccoons and other wild animals can be vectors for many diseases including rabies, and wild animals that become too habituated to humans lose their instinctual fear and can become aggressive. Animals have specialized diets, and those that become too reliant on human food will become malnourished and get sick or die from eating the wrong foods. There are others ways to show your love for wildlife than endangering their lives for a photo op!

If you do see any animal that appears sick, injured, or behaving suspiciously, do not attempt to touch it, capture it, or feed it without first consulting wildlife care professionals. There is, for example, currently an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza particularly in raptors and waterfowl, and very strict precautions must be taken when handling potentially infected wildlife.

Also, it’s now spring which means it’s baby season! Don’t assume baby animals on their own are abandoned: their parents may have left them in what they thought was a safe spot, and they are nearby searching for food. Observe from a safe distance to see if the parents return, and if you are still concerned, please call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or rescue like California Wildlife Center, International Bird Rescue Center, Marine Mammal Care Center, or Ojai Raptor Center for further instructions. You may do more harm than good by trying to “help” a baby animal that doesn’t need it. And please hold off on tree trimming until the fall or winter, after nesting season.

And finally, for the sake of your beloved cats’ wellbeing and for the wellbeing of all our wildlife, keep your cats indoors!

~Angela Woodside, FoGP member

 

Current Rodenticide Legislation [AB 1322]

Assemblymember Laura Friedman is leading the legislative charge against the use of diphacinone, the agent that made P-22 sick in 2014.

Recently, FoGP funded lab testing of a young bobcat, confirming it had a high load of diphacinone.

AB 1322 would extend the existing moratorium on dangerous second generation anticoagulants, and adds diphacinone, the most widespread rodenticide used today. It has a high probability of affecting non-targeted wildlife.

There is little doubt that most of the use of this agent is by pest control “professionals” in residential neighborhoods.

Help us support AB 1322!

More on the impacts of rodenticides