Rodenticide Alternative Trial at Mackle Park

Since 2021, I have been vocal about the need for a change in rat poison use on Marco Island working as the Wildlife Biologist for Audubon Western Everglades. 

1. 2020-2021 burrowing owl mortality increased.

2. 2021 I spent the entire year persuading FWC to do testing.

3. 2022 we started collecting and shipping out freshly deceased owls for testing on both rat poison and rat lungworm to FWC and SCWDS.

4. With positive results, I increased education to the public and City of Marco Island.

5. 2022 I added the requirement of starter burrows not being dug on any property with rat poison. Volunteers increased public education while monitoring owls all over the island.

6. 2022-2023 I met with Raptors are the Solution and Wisdom Good Works to find solutions based on their research in other areas.

7. 2023-2024 Discussions had with City staff regarding rat contraceptive feeds as an alternative.

8. 2024 Pilot program at Mackle Park funded by the City of Marco Island using Wisdom Good Works Good Bites contraceptive feed. 1-year plan with stations managed by AWE staff and volunteers.

The first step for education was gaining evidence through testing burrowing owls for rodenticide levels. This was achieved by our Owl Watch team and citizens reporting any freshly deceased owls. Additionally, any owls that did not survive treatment at the Conservancy von Arx Hospital were saved by their staff. Samples were sent to Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) for necropsy and further testing. A lot of teamwork goes into getting results! Rat poison levels for each owl was identified as well as the specific type of poisons found within its system. Owls were also tested for rag lungworm with limited cases found. The extremely high levels and variety of poisons increased over the next several years. We extensively tracked mortality and spread education about alternatives (snap traps contained, detour gel, good nature C02 traps, rat zapper contained).

Meeting with other partners allowed us to continue research on alternatives and discuss the most successful options. The goal is not to remove rat control or remove rats entirely, but instead get the population to a manageable level long term and provide safe food sources for birds of prey and mammals. We continue to only follow scientific and factual methods as I introduced Wisdom Good Works to the City of Marco Island. Dr. Loretta Mayor (co-founder) presented her rat contraceptive feed called Good Bites to the BACR committee. Goals of tackling city owned properties with pilot programs were established to remove mass use of rat poisons. To start, the city agreed to fund a trial at Mackle Park for 12 months. During this time, we have recruited 11 of our AWE volunteers and three volunteers from BACR/the City to monitor and refill the feed stations. Last week they attended a training with Wisdom Good Work's director of operations, Alaina Gonzalez-White. Following is her team's plan for the future of Marco Island!

From Alaina Gonzalez-White: 

WISDOM Good Works is pleased to partner with Audubon of the Western Everglades and the City of Marco Island to bring safe, sustainable rodent management to Mackle Park. Through the generosity of volunteers for application and monitoring, along with the support of City and Parks staff, we are helping the community remove harmful rodenticides from your local environment. 

Throughout a 12-month pilot study that was launched this week, poison interventions will be replaced with a non-toxic contraceptive rodent feed called Good Bites. The poison-free, plant based alternative works quickly to contracept both male and female rodents, drastically inhibiting the species rapid rate of reproduction. WISDOM Good Works will evaluate the data collected by Audubon volunteers and provide the stakeholders with regular reporting to monitor rodent activity levels in the shared community space.  

Upon completion of the study period, WISDOM will provide feedback and guidance to expand to all city held properties and private property management. Later next year the technology will be made available to individuals wishing to participate. Marco Island is leading the charge restoring ecological balance and protecting wildlife, including the beloved burrowing owls without resorting to harmful and costly poisons.

Questions?

Contact AWE: owlwatchmarco@gmail.com. Wisdom Good Works:

info@wisdomgoodworks.org