A facility in Livermore, California, Sandia National Laboratories, admits that it is poisoning ground squirrels.
Studies have demonstrated that the continual cycle of seasonal culls is responsible for a larger population- not less. Killing the squirrels artificially increases food supplies to the remaining squirrels, the consequence of which is increased reproduction and a greater population.
Additionally, poisons are horribly cruel. They cause convulsions, vomiting, internal bleeding, gradual cardiac collapse, and a variety of other reactions that result in immense suffering and a slow, agonizing death. The most common poisons take several days to kill. And orphaned young end up dying of starvation and dehydration. This poison can also affect other wild and non-wild animals, including family pets, endangered species, and federally protected birds who make contact with tainted bodies.
We request that Sandia National Laboratories remove any remaining poison and work with particular groups to develop alternative, humane solutions to killing these animals.
SOURCE: http://our-compass.org/2012/06/20/urge-sandia-national-laboratories-to-stop-poisoning-squirrels/
Paul Hommert
President and Laboratories Director
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 969
Livermore, CA 94551-0969
7011 East Avenue
Livermore, CA 94550
Email: pjhomme@sandia.gov
Robert Holland
Environmental Management Department
Email: rcholla@sandia.gov
Mike Janes
Communications Officer
Email: mejanes@sandia.gov
A facility in Livermore, California, Sandia National Laboratories, admits that it is poisoning ground squirrels.
Studies have demonstrated that the continual cycle of seasonal culls is responsible for a larger population- not less. Killing the squirrels artificially increases food supplies to the remaining squirrels, the consequence of which is increased reproduction and a greater population.
Additionally, poisons are horribly cruel. They cause convulsions, vomiting, internal bleeding, gradual cardiac collapse, and a variety of other reactions that result in immense suffering and a slow, agonizing death. The most common poisons take several days to kill. And orphaned young end up dying of starvation and dehydration. This poison can also affect other wild and non-wild animals, including family pets, endangered species, and federally protected birds who make contact with tainted bodies.
We request that Sandia National Laboratories remove any remaining poison and work with particular groups to develop alternative, humane solutions to killing these animals.