Poisons for sale

Recently, an online company selling badger poison available for purchase in Ireland came to our attention. Investigating the website revealed that not only was badger poison available but a whole range of poisons targeting birds, hedgehogs and weasels (which would be effective on similar species). Also available was bat repellent which worked when ingested.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was informed as well as the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). The NPWS responded to say they would pass on the information to the licensing unit for reply, but to date no reply has been received.

CRRU - Ireland has also yet to reply. CRRU - Ireland is (or was) a multi stakeholder taskforce made up of governmental, nongovernmental and industry bodies to promote best practice and responsible use of chemical rodenticides.

Fortunately, wildlife campaigners and the UK-based Badgerwatch were already aware of the website and what it was selling and worked with the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, Trading Standards and National Wildlife Crime Unit to get the products removed. ITV news contacted the company (and got a reply) to be told that the hedgehog product was a bait to be used with traps (also illegal), and it was a food, although the packaging and their website clearly stated ‘hedgehog killer’.

The bat repellent is more confusing as the bat would have to eat the insect-based product for it to work and would also be illegal as it would involve disturbing a bat roost to use it, not to mention what the effects of the product might be, and more interestingly how the bats would consume it.

Neither Safety Data Sheets nor a list of the active ingredient were available for any of the poisons for sale. This meant that we could not see what it actually does, and more concerning what to do in the event of accidental poisoning. Based in the United States, some companies sell poisons that may be banned in the EU, though fortunately only sell to licensed pest controllers. However, many other types of poisons, such as snake venom, are sold illegally and the sellers advertise their methods of concealment for customer satisfaction. We found websites selling such items whilst looking into the exotic pet trade into Ireland. The whole issue raises questions about how online sales of products that could be detrimental to our wildlife are controlled. Who monitors the products and websites selling them and takes appropriate action? It seems CRRUIreland is inactive, or at least unable to offer advice and the NPWS are probably over stretched. While smuggling of wildlife falls under the remit of customs, and to some extent the Department of Agriculture, items readily available to order and the methods used to transport them into Ireland show how a rapidly changing digital world can add pressures to our wildlife. Also in the relation to the use of poison, in January we learned that a white-tailed eagle which was the subject of a reintroduction programme in 2021, was found poisoned in Co. Cavan. Subsequent toxicology tests conducted by the State Laboratory confirmed the bird had been poisoned with carbofuran, a toxic substance that has been banned for over a decade. Why is it that people are still poisoning the land in this way? Did some landowners stockpile these chemicals prior to them being prohibited? We urge anyone with information to contact the NPWS on 01-5393156.

Bat repellent