LETTER

LETTRE

Reply to Richard Potvin's letter on squirrels

 

I appreciated reading your caring letter in the Aylmer Bulletin.  This morning, I witnessed a chipmunk in similar agony and felt helpless, knowing that she/he may  survive another day or two, after ingesting poison.
    It isn't only individual residents, who poison our squirrels and chipmunks, but they are part of the reason.  
    The bigger culprit is almost every shopping mall, grocery store, restaurant in our area.  Often at the back of the building, are non-conspicuous poison bait traps, either black or grey, very low, flat, with 2 holes for entry / exit.  The benign appearance serves to help us not recognize how inhumane they are.  These bigger businesses hire extermination services to provide and maintain poisonous traps. 
    Not only are the rodents who carry the bait to their nests affected, but also non-target animals that eat the contaminated rodents. (Birds, family cats)  Wildlife was here long before Gatineau planned the major deforestation for profit through over-construction.   This has cost not only wildlife but ourselves.
    Educating neighbours, speaking with local business managers, writing to various levels of government, petitioning, and boycotting  may be the only ways to get the message across that the majority of citizens do not want our chipmunks, squirrels or birds tortured by some who consider them an inconvenience.   
Anonymous
Aylmer