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24 August 2000 Avoid strong rat poisons urges RSPB _BY FWI STAFF_ BIRDS of prey could be falling victim to high strength rat poisons used by farmers to control rats, claims the RSPB. The
bird protection charity has called on producers to use less lethal varieties if at all possible, reports the BBC Radio 4 _Farming Today_ programme. Duncan McNiven from the RSPB said second
generation pesticides, introduced as rats become immune to earlier poisons appear to be hitting raptor numbers. Kites being great scavengers will pick up dead rodent bodies from around farm
buildings scavenge of those carcasses and themselves become poisoned, he said. Although deaths due to secondary poisoning are not unlawful, they are unfortunate and the RSPB believes they
can be avoided. It calls on farmers to stick to less potent poisons where they can and clear away any dead rodents from open country. This plea comes in the week it was reported that three
red kites had been poisoned in the East Midlands. However, it is believed that this was a case of deliberate killing using poisoned-laced carrion.
