In September we worked with the Cowra Woodland Birds Program on an evening event for the Bird Interest Group Network (BIGnet) annual gathering occuring in Cowra. Titled ‘Caring for nature’s pest controllers’ the event featured a short film followed by panel discussion around second generation rodenticides (SGARs).

At that time we were all nervously awaiting a decision from the Australian government’s pesticide and veterinary medicines authority (APVMA) as to whether regulations around this family of rat and mice poisons would be tightened.

SGARs can have devastating impacts on non-target species such as owls, eagles and magpies due to the poison remaining active in the rodents body after death & accumulating in their natural predators. Not all rodenticides behave this way or pose these risks.

A decision, which was due any day, was finally published this week (December). The APVMA press release is available here.

The APVMA process includes a consultation period which is now open for your input. Submissions can be made until 16th March 2026.

Resources

A PDF of the APVMA’s latest review can be downloaded from here.

Night Calling Short Film available to view for free on Youtube.

Birdlife Australia on Rat Poison.

A news article by the ABC covering response to the review can be found here.

Some councils around the world have developed ‘Owl Friendly’ policies. Margaret River Council is an example of that.