In April we published an action alert asking you to speak out against a cruel and dangerous proposal to airdrop almost 3,000 pounds of poison on the Farallon Islands to eradicate house mice. At the California Coastal Commission’s October meeting we were disturbed to witness a series of presentations containing disinformation in favor of the poison drop. Please virtually attend the CCC’s November and December meetings to speak out against this cruel and ill-advised plan. 

The Farallon Islands sit off the coast of San Francisco and are a fragile and unique ecosystem that provides habitat for dozens of species of wild animals from salamanders to seals, and a vital breeding ground for numerous species of birds. It’s also home to half of the world’s population of the endangered ashy storm petrel. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing an airdrop of a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, or super-toxic rat poison to eradicate "invasive" house mice over concerns about the impact they’re having on the ecosystem, and how their presence is attracting burrowing owls who predate on ashy storm petrels when mice numbers drop.

However, there are a number of flaws with this plan. To begin with, the poison USFWS is proposing to use, Brodifacoum-25D Conservation, has a 38 percent failure rate in prior attempts on other islands to eradicate mice. But just as important, it is cruel and unethical to mass-poison sentient creatures. Also, the proposed poison is toxic not only to mice, but also to mammals, aquatic life, and even birds! And since the Farallon Islands are so close to San Francisco, this rodenticide could likely cross the gulf and end up on the mainland, where it will poison wild animals and possibly even animal companions. 

It is vital that we speak up against this dangerous and cruel plan. Please plan on joining the upcoming November and December meetings, and speaking for 2 minutes. Here are the meeting details:

In November, please register ahead of time to speak during public comments on one of the following dates:

Wednesday, November 17 at 9 a.m. PT, Register by 5 p.m. on November 16.
Thursday, November 18 at 9 a.m. PT, Register by 5 p.m. on November 17.
Friday, November 19 at 9 a.m. PT, Register by 5 p.m. on November 18. 

In December, the meeting dates are 15 - 17 at 9 a.m. PT, but the agenda and registration links are not yet posted. You can find them via this generic agenda link after December 1. Please register the day before by 5 p.m. to speak during the Farallon Islands agenda item, which will be posted on the agenda webpage). 

Some talking points you can mention: 

• Please reject the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s poison dispersal plan for the South Farallon Islands.
• The proposed poison (Brodifacoum) has a 38 percent failure rate in prior attempts on other islands to eradicate mice.
• Brodifacoum decays slowly and poses a serious threat to non-target species.
• There is no evidence of mice predation on ashy storm petrel nests occurirng at the Farallon Islands.
• It is cruel and unethical to mass-poison living beings. Poisoning is an incredibly painful way to die.
• The proposed poison is toxic not only to mice, but also to birds, mammals, and aquatic life.
• It is not realistic to haze all Western gulls from the Farallon Islands to prevent their unintended deaths from the poison.
• The dump will take place on an island just off the coast of San Francisco, and some of the poison may end up on the mainland where it can be consumed by native wild animals and even animal companions.
• Contraceptive bait is a viable, and better, alternative to poison. Recent research suggests rodents may be building up immunities to some poisons, and many cities are having great results with contraceptives. 

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