Starling Poisoning

["Adam Kozlowski" <ADAMKOZLOWSKI at utah dot gov>]

22 January 2003  FYI

The Northern Region front desk has recently been getting calls about
dead black birds in their yard.  Three reports have come in this week
from the Plain City, West Warren, and Willard areas.  The birds in
question are almost exclusively starlings, an invasive European black
bird.  The warm winter has caused unusually large numbers of these birds
(~66,000 on Logan's Christmas bird count) to remain in northern Utah in
concentrated flocks.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service agents are currently
poisoning in the aforementioned townships with a compound called
Starlicide.  The poisoning is being conducted at the request of local
ranchers and farmers to help control crop damages.  Starlings are
poisoned on feed piles and die on their roost sites.  As it would
happen, preferred roost sites are often in large trees surrounding
private residences.

Wildlife Services assured me there is no risk of secondary poisoning
from dead starlings, although it is recommended common sense be used in
handling any dead animal.  A plastic bag inverted over your hand will
act as a glove and container to make easy disposal of the animal in your
trash.

Questions regarding this information can be directed to Wildlife
Services at (801)-731-6137.

Thank you,
Adam


Adam Kozlowski
Sensitive Species Biologist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Northern Region
515 East 5300 South, Ogden UT  84055
Office:  (801) 476-2740
Cell:  (801) 510-2034
email: adamkozlowski@utah.gov

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