We give a HOOT!

We have joined the owl-friendly movement!

So, what's it all about?

Owls are very important to a healthy, balanced ecosystem. They help prevent the destruction of vegetation and farm crops by eating rodents. A family of barn owls can eat more than 1,000 rodents yearly!

Local governments and private landowners may control rodents using rodenticides. Some rodenticides are more harmful than others. If rodents consume especially harmful rodenticides, the owl may be harmed or killed. These especially harmful rodenticides are known as second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides or SGARS.

So, what we are doing?

We have been using first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) for quite some time.

These rodenticides are less likely to cause secondary poisoning in non-target animals. 

Benefits can include:

• Protecting owls 
• Reducing spread of disease
• Increasting natural pest control (owls eating rodents)
• Supporting biodiversity
• Healthier gardens
• Often cheaper to build an owl box to control rodents than to buy rodenticides

What's changed?

At the 27 May 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council voted to make us officially 'owl-friendly.' 

This means we're going to continue to use FGARS and promote the benefits of better rodenticides across the Harvey Region.

Learn more here