Rodenticides

Rodenticides are a concern in the community due to direct or secondary poisoning of wildlife, pets and people.

Provincial Ban: second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs)

Please note that there is a provincial ban on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). A temporary ban started July 21, 2021 and will be officially permanent on January 21, 2023. The temporary ban was put in place while the province conducted a scientific review and consultation.  The regulation will prohibit the sale and use of SGARs in B.C. for all members of the public, and most commercial and industrial operations (aside from select “essential services” through a formal process). More information from the province can be found here. 

District of Saanich

On July 13, 2020 Saanich Council unanimously voted to support a ban on municipal use of anticoagulant rodenticides and asked staff to develop community education.  As per the Council vote, a letter was sent to the province by the Mayor of Saanich, on behalf of Council, requesting a provincial ban. 

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs)

SGARS are pesticides registered for use by pest control operators and farmers.  The active ingredients are highly toxic and cause death by internal bleeding.

The province has provided this link to the list of registered SGAR products affected by the ban and recommends always reviewing pesticide labels before use or sale to ensure it doesn’t contain one of the banned ingredients. 

RISK: Direct & Secondary Poisoning

The provincial webpage on SGARs notes:

SGARs can also pose a serious risk to people, pets and wildlife through direct and secondary poisoning. The risk of secondary poisoning for wildlife by SGARs is higher than first-generation products because the active ingredients stay in animal tissue for a long time after feeding.

Rodent Control