Potential for 2ndary poisoning of ravens eating poisoned rats?

[Howard & Jill Plowright <>]

I somehow doubt that you'd be doing much damage to the over-abundant 
Little Raven population! Much as I love their calls (there is great 
variety if one really listens), they have reached almost plague 
proportions and are significant predators of our small native birds here 
in Melbourne. If only we could strike a balance - oh well....
Howard


Wendy wrote:
> Hi All,
> Can anyone tell me if ravens are susceptible to secondary poisoning if they eat 
> 'block' poisoned rats?
>
> I have been delighted to observe the increased adaptation to (inner, VERY) 
> urban living (Coburg, Melbourne and elsewhere) by the local Little Ravens over 
> the past 5-10 years. There is now a breeding population at the local (Coburg) 
> Shopping Centre and also in the vicinity of my house. They share some of my 
> hen's eggs with me and also eat carrion (cat killed bunnies, no targeted 
> feeding)
>
> I have a problem with rats. Last year they ate all the green nectarines off one 
> of my trees, quinces from another, hollowed out most mandarins on the tree - 
> now they are eating the bark from the branches of the mandarin!!!!! - 
> Bas.....'s!!!!
> I used block poisons to eradicate those living in my house ceiling, hoping they 
> would mostly die within/under the house, but another group lives in the 
> neighbours garden/garage and my carport and invades my yard. I am nervous about 
> poisoning these (very carefully with tied down blocks inside pipes in rafters) 
> as I consider there is a greater likelihood of them dying in the open and being 
> found by the Ravens (chooks are happy to eat carrion too but have 'a thing' 
> about rats). Also all bordering neighbours have dogs.
> I have used traps in the past but fear there is also a risk to ravens with 
> these as they are becoming quite bold, AND the traps don't kill most of the 
> rats and I have to deal with an angry suspended rats (traps are tied on rafters 
> to avoid pet chooks/rabbits/duck gaining access) which is not easy!
>
> Does anyone have expert knowledge on the secondary poisoning risk? 
> I have been told that the newer poison breaks down in the rats body? Is this true?
> Wendy
> ============================www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
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