We are lucky to share our coast — and Wavecrest Open Space — with a rich variety of raptors - including barn owls, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, kestrels, and other raptors that help keep rodent populations in balance. Watching these birds hunt and soar is part of what makes our community special.

Sadly, the use of certain rodenticides (rat poisons) can unintentionally harm these birds. When a raptor eats a poisoned rodent, the toxins can build up in their system, leading to illness or death. We’ve recently seen the heartbreaking impact of this in our area.

How you can help protect raptors at Wavecrest and beyond:

Avoid second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (look for active ingredients such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, or difenacoum).
Use safer alternatives:

Snap traps placed inside secured boxes or areas inaccessible to pets and wildlife.
Seal holes and gaps in buildings to prevent entry.
Keep pet food, garbage, and birdseed stored securely.

Choose pest control companies that commit to raptor-safe methods.

By choosing safer rodent control, we can reduce rodent problems without harming the owls and hawks that help protect our ecosystem naturally.

Learn more about raptor-safe rodent control at https://raptorsarethesolution.org/

Thank you for helping protect the wildlife we all cherish!!

Photo credit: Tina Mills ( White-tailed kites in Wavecrest Open Space) - Thank you, Tina!