Bromethalin use in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Bromethalin use in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Published in: "The Weekly Press" (Philadelphia, PA)

July 21 - 28, 2004

http://www.philly1.com/story3072104.html

The Use of Bromethalin in Rittenhouse Square
By Harry B. Cook
Director, Philly1.com

To The Honorable Mayor John F. Street, City Council & The Managing Director's Office:

This is my second letter about the city's use of Bromethalin poison in Rittenhouse Square. Last night, on my way home from dinner, I came across what appeared to be a wounded Starling as I left the park on the West Rittenhouse side. The bird was trying to pull itself up by the beak and had no use of its right side. As I often do when I find an animal in distress I went for a container, collected the bird and headed straight for the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (SWRC). Starlings have a pretty song, but not last night. The bird was screaming in pain as it vexed in and out of seizure all the way to the SWRC.

As has happened on so many occasions since the city instituted this form of vector control a non-target animal paid the ultimate price. The rains of the last week have flooded the burrows where the poison is laid. As a result, the puddles at the edges of the park and elsewhere are saturated with a neurotoxin that has no known anti-poison. Bromethalin causes seizure, brain swelling and death.

To make matters worse, these effects can be passed along to predatory birds like owls and hawks that feed on the dead or dying rodents, as well as preening pigeons and starlings. As you know, non-target animals like the North American Grey Squirrel have been decimated in the park by this poison.

While it is a terrible thing to watch an animal die in such a fashion and be powerless to help it, I fear more for the children who use the park for summer camps, the gardeners employed by the Friends of Rittenhouse Square and the homeless who not only congregate there but often find meals in park trash cans as well as from the ground and along the shrubbery. This is a human tragedy in waiting.

The EPA has not approved the use of Bromethalin in public parks as it is being employed. While I understand the difficulties of vector control in an urban environment, I believe this to be morally reprehensible. I call on the city to cease its practice of lacing the park with a neurotoxin that has no known antidote and to post bi-lingual signage where and when the poison has/had been applied to serve as a warning to parents, the homeless and companion animals.

I thank you for your consideration and beg you for action in this matter.

Respectfully,
Harry B. Cook
Director, Philly1.com

Related Story:
http://www.philly1.com/silentspring.html

From Robert Christian, Editor & Publisher, The Weekly Press & UC Review:
Here are the phone numbers to those with ultimate authority over the square on this issue:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

MAYOR'S OFFICE:
HON. JOHN F. STREET
215-686-2181
(fax) 215-686-2180
Room 215
City Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19107

CITY COUNCIL:
HON. DARRELL CLARKE
215-686-3442
(fax) 215-686-1901
Room 484
City Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19107

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S OFFICE:
215-686-3480
PHILIP GOLDSMITH

Related Story:
http://www.philly1.com/silentspring.html

Rittenhouse Square's Silent Spring.

Since October of 2003, The City of Philadelphia has used a neurotoxin, Bromethalin, to control the rodent population in Rittenhouse Square. Bromethalin has no known antidote and causes seizure, brain swelling and death. These effects can be passed along to predatory birds like owls and hawks who feed on dead or dying rodents, as well as preening pigeons and inquisitive companion animals. Non-target animals like the North American Grey Squirrel population have been decimated in the park due to this form of vector control. Many fear that the children who use the park to play might too be at risk. While the EPA has not specifically approved the use of Bromethalin in public parks, the City feels it has no choice but to use the substance. By any standard, the rat population is out-of-control. Philly1.Com understands the difficulties of vector control in an urban environment, however, we do encourage the City to consider alternative means in multi-use public spaces such as Rittenhouse Square. Interviewed are Rittenhouse Square resident and anti-poison activist, Heliana Murray, Howard Wellens VMD, as well as Barbara Riebman and Ronnie Warm of the Mobilization for Animals-PA.
Fore more information call Mobilization for Animals-PA:
1.866.6ANIMAL