Notwithstanding my involvement of just a few months to date with the RATS (Raptors Are The Solution) cause to eliminate anticoagulant based rodenticides from our environment, and toward furthering the survival chances of our precious raptors, other rare animals and people, I’m realizing the frustration of trying to deal with entities, governmental and others, regarding a “common sense” initiative.
Remembering the formation of the Toxic Use Reduction Institute three decades ago that UMASS Lowell professor Arnold O’Brien championed, I decided to contact them regarding the RATS organization in late June. The initiative is all about toxic use reduction, after all. They expressed an interest in discussing my proposed ballot ban initiative, either in person or by phone. Over the course of three weeks, we exchanged half a dozen emails and finally settled on a meeting time.
I spoke to the TURI rep and reviewed the content of my initial correspondence and explained specifically where I could use their help. Within two minutes, she indicated that TURI could not assist in any way as they were required by their government charter to limit their involvement to a select chemical list established in 1990, and were further prohibited by that same charter from advocating on anyone else’s behalf. No student involvement, no intern involvement, no involvement at all. Certainly this could have been handled in their initial reply weeks ago. I’d suggest they change their acronym to STURI (Select Toxics (of 1990) Use Reduction Institute). A few hours spent – a few hours wasted. To Lisa and all the RATS folks out in California who have been working this cause for at least seven years, I feel your pain.
But I’ll continue, of course, as I know people out there are getting the message, slowly but surely, and are seeking out and using safer methods for rodent control. And when one person uses a snap trap or a cat, instead of a d-Con poison bait, a raptor somewhere will likely be saved. Overall, this will be a long slog. For more information, visit raptorsarethesolution.org.
G.C. Menin, Sr.
Birch Drive, Sterling