City Council to Consider Rodenticides

The Agoura Hills City Council will take up the issue of rodenticide use – believed to harm wildlife alongside killing rodents – at its Wednesday meeting.

On the agenda is a resolution, while not outlawing the sale and use of anticoagulant rodenticides, encourages businesses not to sell it and residents not to use it.

It also “commits the city of Agoura Hills to not use anticoagulant rodenticides, where feasible, as part of its maintenance program for city-owned parks and facilities,” says the proposed resolution.

Moorpark, Calabasas and Malibu have all passed similar resolutions, according to Agoura Hills Patch blogger Nona Green.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says use of poison baits used to control rodents has injured and killed numerous wild animals and pets.

“This is because predatory and scavenging birds and mammals like owls, hawks, raccoons, foxes, skunks and coyotes that eat dead or dying rodents that have consumed these baits will also be poisoned,” says the department’s website.

The council meets 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 30001 Ladyface Court in Agoura Hills.