Shire declared owl friendly

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has declared itself “owl friendly” and is backing a local campaign to protect wildlife by discouraging the use of a troubling class of rodenticides.

Councillors passed the motion at Wednesday night’s meeting, signalling the Shire’s official support for the Rodenticide Action Group and its Owl Friendly campaign.

The group's vision is to make the Margaret River region a haven for owls and other wildlife from rodenticide poisoning, and specifically centres on second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides.

Shire Coordinator Environment Landcare Services John McKinney said the particular class of rodenticide threatened wildlife through direct and non-direct consumption, and the Shire was proud to back the initiative.

"Not only can non-target animals eat these baits, they can also be harmed – and often killed – when they eat a mouse or rat that has died or is moving slowly from the poison," he said.

"But by publicly declaring the region owl friendly, we hope to discourage the use of these rodenticides and increase the uptake of more humane, environmentally-sensitive methods and products."

Some of the animals at risk include nocturnal birds like the Masked and Barn Owls, Boobook and Tawny Frogmouth, as well as diurnal birds of prey, Quenda, Possums, Chuditch and Phascogales.

The Shire already undertakes owl friendly pest management, but will expand its actions by reaching out to Shire-owned premises that coordinate their own rodent control, investigating how owl friendly measures can be incorporated into demolition requirements, distributing owl friendly information to businesses, and erecting owl friendly displays at Shire-owned libraries.

Rodenticide Action Group coordinator Dr Boyd Wykes said second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides represented the bulk of products available at supermarkets and hardware stores, and many people were likely unaware of the insidious problem they posed for nocturnal birdlife and other fauna.

“The Margaret River community is rightfully proud and protective of its extraordinarily rich environment and wildlife,” he said.

“We know that our residents and businesses would be horrified to find out that the poisons many are using to control rats and mice are also killing a wide range of wildlife, including owls that are our natural allies in controlling these pests.”

Owl Friendly Margaret River has a wealth of resources on owl friendly rodent control at owlfriendly.org.au

The group is also hosting an event on 27 November from 5.30-7pm at Margaret River HEART.

It will include information on owl friendly rodent control as well as illustrated talks, art, a book display and complimentary nibbles. Register at bit.ly/36uMAEq

The region's elusive Masked Owl is the face of the owl friendly campaign. Picture: Steve Castan For a high resolution version or more images, click here.