As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completes its review of the toxic poison 4-aminopyridine, The Humane Society of the United States urges EPA to strengthen protective measures for the deadly substance. Products containing 4-aminopyridine, which are sold under the brand name Avitrol, are commonly used by licensed pest control operators (PCO) on many species of birds.
This poison is extremely inhumane, causing birds to endure painful convulsions before death. A leading textbook on veterinary toxicology states that "birds and animals suffer immensely" from Avitrol.
"There are many reasons to object to this poison, not least the cruel death it inflicts on target birds and other animals," said Maggie Brasted, director of urban wildlife conflict resolution for The HSUS. "Avitrol endangers nontarget species, pets and even people who ingest or handle the poison. The EPA must, at the very least, take strides to protect animals who are not targets. Their current proposed measures do not give non-target animals that required protection."
The measures that The EPA has proposed to protect birds and other non-target animals will only be required when the poison is placed on the ground, not in the much more common elevated locations such as rooftops, parking decks and other structures. This is despite the fact that other animals are at risk of poisoning, no matter where the poison is placed.
The EPA's review comes at a time when Avitrol poisoning incidents are making news in Staten Island and Phoenix. A similar incident closed Washington, DC, Metro stations when the discovery of numerous dead birds raised fears of a terror attack. Hopefully, the EPA will take this opportunity to take Avitrol off the market, or at least implement much-needed protective measures.
Facts:
- Avitrol, although frequently marketed as a "flock frightening agent" or "repellent," is a nervous system toxicant, which is highly toxic to most birds, mammals and other vertebrates. It causes birds who consume it to suffer convulsions, fly erratically sometimes striking structures, vocalize, and die.
- The most common target birds are pigeons, sparrows, and starlings in urban and suburban areas.
- From 2002 to 2006, 151 to 175 pounds of 4-amiinopyridine were sold in the U.S. each year; enough to kill more than 200 million birds each year.
- Users claim that the distress of poisoned birds frightens other flock members away. However, the species most commonly poisoned with Avitrol do not react strongly to flockmates' distress. Therefore, in most cases, it simply kills a substantial portion of the flock.
- Any "frightening" effect of Avitrol on surviving birds is very short lived becauase remaining birds return quickly. This creates a continuing cycle of poisoning, and a steady income stream for PCOs.There are numerous proven humane methods to resolve conflicts with "nuisance" birds, ranging from a new "hatch control" drug, which would limit pigeon reproduction, to ways to make the place they congregate unwelcoming.
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