Toxicological responses to sublethal anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in free-flying hawks

Vyas, Nimish B.; Rattner, Barnett A.; Lockhart, J Michael; Hulse, Craig S.; Rice, Clifford P.; Kuncir, Frank; Kritz, Kevin J.

doi:10.1007/s11356-022-20881-z

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Using hunter‐harvested birds for population‐level toxicological assessments is a common sampling methodology (Cristol et al 2012, Bond et al 2015, Leaphart et al 2020); however, caution should be used as these samples provide a relatively limited temporal window for an individual animal's exposure levels. In addition, although metal accumulation is hypothesized to occur between breeding habitat and point‐of‐harvest (Alhashemi et al 2011, Khan et al 2015), movement patterns determined from telemetry data would greatly enhance our understanding of metal exposure across spatial and temporal scales in this region (Wolf et al 2010, Vyas et al 2022). Similarly, there are potential biases associated with hunter‐harvested waterbirds in which sampled individual age class, body condition, and sex may not be representative of the total population (Heitmeyer et al 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metal concentrations in Canada geese, snow geese, mallards, and American coots from the northern Rocky Mountains in Montana

Capoccia

Hailer

Balmer

2023

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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The presence of metals in migratory bird tissues is well established and mining as an anthropogenic source of exposure to metals is well reported in the scientific literature. Determining the difference between what are hypothesized as normal metal levels and those associated with acute mining toxicity is challenging as spatial and temporal overlap of migratory birds with anthropogenic point sources can be highly variable at individual, population, and species levels. We examined the concentrations of 5 geologically prominent metals and metalloids in the region (arsenic, cadmium, copper, manganese, and zinc) in tissues (kidney, n = 64; liver, n = 65; and muscle, n = 65) from 4 species common to the northern Rocky Mountains in western Montana (Canada goose, Branta canadensis, n = 12; snow goose, Anser caerulescens, n = 15; mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, n = 32; and American coot, Fulica americana, n = 6), to identify metal concentrations for comparison to acute mining‐associated mortalities. Metal levels were highly variable across tissue types for all species. For example, the highest concentrations of copper, manganese, and zinc were measured in the liver (18,300, 3,960, and 38,200, respectively; ug/kg), while cadmium levels were highest in the kidney (973 ug/kg). Among species and tissue types, metal levels were also highly variable. For example, copper levels in mallards were highest in the kidney (6,700 ug/kg) and lowest in muscle (2,780 ug/kg). In contrast, copper levels in American coots were highest in muscle (14,400 ug/kg) and lowest in the kidney (5,060 ug/kg). While the wide variation in metal concentrations among species and tissue types measured in our study can make for difficult comparisons, the results are similar to control cases from other peer‐reviewed publications, and several times lower than dose‐response experiments and incidents in which mining‐associated mortality was known. Our results provide metal concentrations in migratory bird species that utilize the northern Rocky Mountains through Montana, which are essential data for assessing exposure, risk, and mortality associated with anthropogenic activities in the region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metal concentrations in Canada geese, snow geese, mallards, and American coots from the northern Rocky Mountains in Montana

Capoccia

Hailer

Balmer

2023

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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“…2 Although not all individuals die as a direct result of rodenticide poisoning because they are not exposed to lethal doses, many suffer from behavioural changes associated with SGAR toxicity which in turn can influence their survival. 15 Given the growing evidence that high proportions of raptors globally are routinely being exposed to secondary poisoning with anticoagulant rodenticides 16 there is a strong argument that all injured or sick raptors admitted to care facilities should be immediately treated for rodenticide poisoning as a default component of their treatment.…”

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Successful rehabilitation and release of a powerful owl chick with suspected rodenticide poisoning

Cooke,

Carter,

Groves

et al. 2023

Aust Veterinary J

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The successful rehabilitation and release of raptor chicks can be challenging, especially when the chicks are still in the post‐fledging dependency period. Here, we report on a recently fledged powerful owl chick that was held in care for 33 days before being successfully reunited with its parents. We document the steps undertaken during the entire process from collection from the wild to post‐release monitoring and recommend clinical procedures for treatment of raptors entering veterinary facilities. Success of this rehabilitation was facilitated by early care and treatment for potential rodenticide poisoning, as well as the integration of citizen scientists monitoring the family unit in the field while the chick was in care and during the post‐release period. Given the emerging evidence of widespread rodenticide poisoning in raptors both in Australia and globally, it is critical to suspect all raptors may have been exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides and commence treatment with vitamin K immediately. Routine treatment for rodenticides early increases the probability of successful recovery post‐trauma as well as reducing the time in treatment as much as possible.

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Pesticide impacts on avian species with special reference to farmland birds: a review

Moreau

Rabdeau

Badenhausser

et al. 2022

Environ Monit Assess

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Toxicological responses to sublethal anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in free-flying hawks

Cited by 7 publications

References 29 publications

Heavy metal concentrations in Canada geese, snow geese, mallards, and American coots from the northern Rocky Mountains in Montana

Heavy metal concentrations in Canada geese, snow geese, mallards, and American coots from the northern Rocky Mountains in Montana

Successful rehabilitation and release of a powerful owl chick with suspected rodenticide poisoning

Pesticide impacts on avian species with special reference to farmland birds: a review

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