Evidence of Songbird Intoxication From Rozol Application at a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colony

Authors

Nimish B. Vyas, Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Craig S. Hulse, U.S. Geological Survey
Carol U. Meteyer, U.S. Geological Survey
Clifford P. Rice, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center- West

Date of this Version

6-2013

Citation

Vyas NB, Hulse CS, Meteyer CU, Rice CP. 2012. Evidence of songbird intoxication from RozolH application at a black-tailed prairie dog colony. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 4(1):97–103; e1944-687X. doi: 10.3996/ 052012-JFWM-042

Abstract

Concerns about avian poisonings from anticoagulant rodenticides have traditionally focused on secondary poisoning of raptors exposed by feeding on contaminated mammalian prey. However, ground foraging songbirds can be directly poisoned from operational applications of the anticoagulant rodenticide RozolH (0.005% chlorophacinone, active ingredient) applied as a grain bait, at black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus colonies. A dead western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta recovered from the study prairie dog colony displayed hemorrhaging in brain and pectoral muscle tissue, and it contained chlorophacinone residue concentrations of 0.59 and 0.49 mg/g (wet weight) in the liver and intestinal contents, respectively. Chlorophacinone residues from two Rozol-colored songbird droppings found at the study colony were 0.09 and 0.46 mg/g (wet weight). The timing of the meadowlark mortality and the occurrence of discolored droppings show that songbird exposure and poisoning can occur weeks after a Rozol application.