BIG CATS FACE DANGER, DEATH FROM POISONS PRODUCTS MEANT TO KILL RODENTS MIGHT SPELL DEATH FOR WILDLIFE.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - Park officials in the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. fear that a number of mountain lions and bobcats may have died after eating rodents that had ingested in·gest tr.v. in·gest·ed, in·gest·ing, in·gests 1. To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption. See Synonyms at eat. 2. rat poison rat poison n → mort-aux-rats f inv rat poison n → Rattengift nt rat poison n → , which some elected officials say should be banned in the area. Charles Taylor, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: see National Parks and Monuments (table). , said he would present findings today at a news conference showing that at least two mountain lions in the area died of complications from anticoagulant anticoagulant (ăn'tēkōăg`yələnt), any of several substances that inhibit blood clot formation (see blood clotting). chemicals - commonly found in rat poisons. ``Anticoagulants Anticoagulants Drugs that suppress, delay, or prevent blood clots. Anticoagulants are used to treat embolisms. Mentioned in: Embolism, Heart Valve Replacement were found in their systems,'' Taylor said Monday. ``This is a concern for us because we've found that anticoagulants are working their way into the wildlife.'' Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Woodland Hills, has introduced legislation that would authorize any county in the state to prohibit the sale of rodent poisons that contain the anticoagulants used by homeowners and exterminators to kill rats, mice and gophers. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, a member of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy's board of directors, is urging fellow supervisors to support Pavley's bill and wants county agencies to avoid using the pesticides on county facilities including parks and golf courses. ``It's shocking,'' said Parks, whose recommendations are before the Board of Supervisors on today's agenda. ``While we are trying to get rid of the mice and rats near our homes, we are unintentionally getting rid of our mountain lions, bobcats and our raptors.'' Parks said a number of bobcats also died from anticoagulants and that officials believe that about 80 percent of the bobcats in the Santa Monica mountains have anticoagulants in their systems. The chemical and pest control industry has contacted Pavley's office, arguing that there is no effective alternative to these poisons. Harvey Logan, executive vice president of the Pest Control Operators of California, said his association would oppose Pavley's bill unless it were amended to exclude his industry. People must have a way of keeping down the rat population, and these anticoagulant poisons can be effective tools, if used properly, he said. ``Rats spread disease,'' he said. ``The potential from disease is extremely high from an explosion of the rat population.'' Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO --The Ventura County Board of Supervisors The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. The Board of Supervisors is the body governing counties in the U.S. will meet at 8:30 a.m. at 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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