Controlling rodents without the use of poison gets support from SPCA

Sep 24, 2021 | 11:30 AM

A Vernon rodent control company is getting credit for using less harmful methods to clear homes and buildings of pests.

Vernon Rodent Control is the first in the region to receive BC SPCA AnimalKind accreditation and the third wildlife and rodent control company in the province to be recognized for their commitment to high animal welfare.

David Taylor, owner and operator at Vernon Rodent Control, founded the company with the idea of offering people in the region an option for rodent control without the use of wildlife-harming poison.

“I opened Vernon Rodent Control in hopes to raise awareness of secondary poisoning while showing people there is a safer alternative,” said Taylor.

Taylor’s journey began while taking his structural pesticides applicator certificate and thinking about opening a company.

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“I started doing more and more research on poison and how bad it can affect the environment.”

Taylor understands the damage of rodenticides extends to animals higher on the food chain, such as hawks and owls, who ingest poisoned prey.

“I saw a lot of pictures of dying animals due to secondary poisoning. I feel it is up to humans to protect these animals in any way we can,” he explained.

The BC SPCA created the AnimalKind program to decrease animal suffering, provide information about animal-friendly methods for pest management, and connect people with companies that use humane methods for wildlife and rodent control.

Nicole Fenwick, manager, research and standards for the BC SPCA, said they want to make people aware there are humane, effective alternatives available to control rodents and that provide long-term solutions to dealing with unwanted wildlife in homes and buildings.

“Rodenticides have a devastating effect on local wildlife, the environment and can harm non-targeted animals, including pets. Having accredited companies like Vernon Rodent Control helps reduce those risks and is better for the animals,” Fenrwick stated.

The Vernon company’s accreditation comes at the right time. In July, the province put in place a temporary order to ban the sale and use of rodenticides containing the active ingredients brodifacoum, bromadiolone, or difethialone – known as second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides or SGARs.

Learn more about AnimalKind accreditation, rodenticide-free rodent control and accredited companies at animalkind.ca.

by Pete McIntyre

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