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Hoot hoot hooray - Melville goes owl friendly

25 October 2024

The City of Melville has demonstrated its care for owls with the Council declaring the City as owl friendly.

The City of Melville has demonstrated its care for owls with the Council declaring the City as owl friendly at the October 2024 Ordinary Meeting of Council, adopting principles and practices to protect our feathered friends.
 
The City has already taken steps to protect owls and other native predators by no longer providing second generation rodenticide treatments for the community, as these often kill more than just the intended rats and mice, including any bird or animal which may consume a poisoned rodent.
 
The City has also already required its pest operator contractors to use first generation rodenticide treatments.
 
Council’s decision solidifies the City’s efforts to protect owls and City staff will be educated on owl friendly practices with information direct from BirdLife Australia, so that this can be relayed to the wider community and businesses.
 
This will include in the advice that other forms of pest control, like snap traps, should be used before using poisons.
 
The City will advocate via the WA Local Government Association to the State Government to phase out second generation rodenticides and has already included information on its website from BirdLife Australia about bird-friendly rodent control for gardeners, pet-friendly rodent control and managing rodents without second generation anticoagulant rodenticides.
 
The City of Melville joins fellow local governments Augusta-Margaret River, Denmark, Nannup, Mundaring, Bayswater, Cockburn, Fremantle and East Fremantle who have made declarations to be owl friendly.
 
To learn more about alternative control options and other actions you can take, visit: actforbirds.org/ratpoison
 
For more information on environmental and wildlife conservation, visit our website www.melvillecity.com.au/wildlife
 
Comments attributed to City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair:
 
“The City of Melville recognises the important role that owls play in our environment and by becoming owl friendly, we’re helping to protect a key part of our local ecosystem,” said Mayor Mair.
 
“Our priority is to protect and enhance our natural environment, and by adopting owl friendly principles and practices, we’re not only looking after owls but birds and pets as well.
 
“The City will also play an important role in informing the community and local businesses about owl friendly practices and safer choices for rodent control.
 
“I encourage the community to adopt owl friendly practices when managing rodents to help protect our environment.”

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