URGENT: Young Raccoons Dying in Our Neighborhood from Rat Poison

Dear Neighbors,

I am writing to share some important information regarding our local neighborhood wildlife, which many of us enjoy watching.

Recently, you may have noticed an influx of small holes appearing in our lawns. Please be assured that these tunnels are created by innocent ground squirrels and chipmunks, not rats. These chipmunks are a vital, natural food source for our local fox population, helping to keep our neighborhood ecosystem balanced and healthy.

Tragically, over the last week, I have found two very young raccoons on my property suffering agonizing deaths. The first was a juvenile only 4 to 5 months old, and the second was a tiny kit, likely under 2 months old. In both heartbreaking instances, I had to watch them suffer for over four hours while waiting for county Animal Services to arrive and humanely end their pain.

Local wildlife experts indicate these slow, agonizing symptoms—and a sudden drop in our local raccoon and fox numbers—point directly to chemical rat poison (rodenticides) being used nearby.

When poison blocks are placed outdoors, they don't just target pests. Mice and chipmunks eat the bait, and when our local foxes or raccoons hunt those slowed rodents, they ingest a secondary, lethal dose. It leads to a slow, terrible death for innocent wildlife, including nursing mothers and their babies.

If you are currently experiencing issues with burrowing or pests, please consider using wildlife-safe alternatives, such as:

• Filling empty tunnels with heavy gravel or crushed stone.
• Using snap traps or enclosed electronic traps strictly indoors or inside crawlspaces where owls, foxes, and raccoons cannot reach them.
• Deploying natural deterrents like castor oil granules or predator urine scents.

We are so fortunate to share our neighborhood with such a vibrant wildlife community. By choosing poison-free pest control methods, we can keep our properties secure while ensuring our local foxes, chipmunks, and raccoon families remain safe.

Thank you so much for your time, understanding, and compassion for our wild neighbors.

Warm regards,

Keith Elliott