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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Prairie Dog Poison Kills Eagles & Jaguars

WASHINGTON (CN) - The EPA approved Rozol to poison black-tailed prairie dogs though the pesticide endangers a host of nontarget species, including bald eagles, spotted owls, wolves and jaguars, and the EPA didn't notify the public or solicit comment until after it had approved it, the Natural Resources Defense Council clams in Federal Court.

The group says the EPA violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act by approving Rozol to kill prairie dogs in 10 states.

Rozol, and its active ingredient, chlorophacinone, "is an anti-coagulant that slowly kills animals over a period of days to weeks by causing internal and external hemorrhaging," according to the complaint.

The NRDC says the EPA's own scientists have identified multiple species that prey on the prairie dogs and could suffer secondhand poisoning, including the Mexican spotted owl, the New Mexico ridge-nosed rattlesnake, the Preble's meadow jumping mouse and gray wolves.

"Although EPA finally invited public comment on Rozol in October 2009 - nearly 5 months after the agency made its registration decision - it has not voided or suspended the registration or otherwise taken steps to stop the flow of Rozol into the marketplace or halt the use of Rozol targeting prairie dogs," the group claims.

The NRDC wants the pesticide registration of Rozol vacated. It is represented by Sharon Buccino, a staff attorney.

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