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Do not kill the innocent creatures of our Central Park!!!! I am shocked that you would consider using the chemicals that you do. Thank you for noticing and realizing you are KILLING our FUTURE. We have enough problems in our world without your doing this. I hope you will be taught in the same ways that you act.
David P. B.
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Dear Ms. Rafferty,
My message on this subject to Mr. de Montebello has not received a response. My prior message to Mr. Holzer received an inadequate response, stating that the Met was returning to the use of its prior poison.
By now it is impossible that you have not been informed of the public alarm over the Met's spreading of poison, supposedly intended to target rats, but in fact endangering all wildlife that may feed on rats and other small mammals and birds. Frankly, it is past time for the great institution of the Metropolitan Museum of art to begin behaving like good corporate citizens and stop poisoning our environment. Even if you believe there is legal justification for doing so, current ethics require great institutions to behave in ways that do not pose threats to wildlife, pets, children and our world.
If the Met cannot maintain and dispose of its own garbage in a way that does not attract rats, then it should prohibit food on the premises. Rats are not in and of themselves dirty or dangerous animals, but when they are immersed in human garbage they become pests, and I agree with the Met's wish to manage this problem. Humane trapping and euthanasia are the ethical choice, but this would not be necessary if the Met learned how to cleanly handle garbage. This is not rocket science, and if indeed it turns out to be beyond the abilities of those currently charged with garbage responsibility, then Met management has 2 choices: change your management team, or eliminate food from the premises.
There simply is *NO* excuse for the Met to spread poison. It is a backward, primitive, cruel, and dangerous way to deal with a perceived problem. And, clearly, the Met management is attacking the *WRONG* problem. Your problem is uninformed management and unsanitary, dangerous handling of human garbage. It should be the President's concern that the problems be resolved immediately, before another single wildlife victim pays the price for human laziness, ignorance, or neglect.
Thank you for taking prompt action on this matter. I will appreciate an affirmative reply that you agree that the Met must immediately stopped spreading poison in Central Park.
Romola C.
New York, NY
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Has the Met responded to anyone? I e-mailed the director, but got no response. I also e-mailed the NY Times and asked them to cover the story. I'm a "long-distance" subscriber, but so far, I haven't seen a story. I think negative publicity--lots of it from multiple sources--could embarrass them into removing the poison. I have never understood why people choosing to live and work next to a park expect the park to be a sterile, animal-free zone. Or why those who celebrate "static art" can't appreciate the dynamic art of nature. Thanks for everything you do. Your site is my first Web visit every day. Love the kitty photos too! You were very kind (as always) to take in your new friend.
Love and hugs for you and orange cat!
Adrienne
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Dear Metropolitan Museum,
Please do not poison the rats. Obviously, you need to protect your collections from any possible threat, but using poison is an extreme measure. There's already an effective pest control service in the area-- i.e. the red-tail hawks, owls, etc. who regularly dine on rats. Perhaps a smarter strategy would be to encourage these predators to patrol the perimeter of the museum, and let nature takes its course. Inside, maybe a few resident cats could keep things in order.
Even the despised rat has a right to its unique place in the natural world. This tenacious rodent deserves our respect for its ability to thrive despite many centuries of efforts to render it extinct.
Sincerely,
Ursula B.
(California resident and frequent visitor to the Met)
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Dear Lincoln,
Have you ever considered contacting Peta about the dangerous posions the Metropolitan Museum is using?
As i'm sure you know about their battles to help or save innocent animals.I think Ingrid Newkirk is quite a force to be reconned with;
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
501 Front St,
Norfolk, Va 23510
757-622-7382
757-628-0786 (fax) or info@peta.org,
anything is worth a try before we lose our beautiful little friends.
Sincerely,
Dorothy W.
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Dear Mr. Holzer,
I do appreciate your communications, and think you are genuinely committed to the concept of protecting the Museum from rat infestation without harming the birds and animals in the Park.
I’ve been told that the replacement poison is the same one that killed the three Red-tailed Hawk chicks in Riverside Park this Spring. Everyone knew about the nest because it was easily seen, and one by one over a period of a few days, the chicks died. Autopsies were performed, and the results were discovered.
I’m sharing the following info because I think that, if possible, you would like to find an alternative. I’m also including here a website that may be helpful. I realize you are a very busy man, but you also are aware of the importance of handling this rat infestation in the least harmful way possible.
Sincerely,
Eleanor T.
Common active ingredients in rodenticides
Warfarin
In first generation rodenticides. Highly hazardous, Children, birds and non-target animals, particularly dogs, cats, pigs, are at risk of poisoning. Scavengers and rodent predators are at risk of secondary poisoning from dead rodent bodies that have not been collected or have been disposed of in refuse bins or rubbish tips.
Brodifacoum
Found in the rodenticides Havoc® and Hawkrat®. It is particularly damaging to the environment because it remains active in the body for a long period of time. In studies rats have been shown to retain 34% of the single dose in their livers after 13 weeks and 11% of the active ingredient after 104 weeks. Poisons with this active ingredient are particularly dangerous for birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and owls, which may eat several rodents each day. This agent can also cause poisoning of water sources and food.
Bromadiolone
Found in Maki® and Contrac® rodenticides. This is an extremely hazardous anti-coagulant. It is toxic and remains in the body of animals and can lead to secondary poisoning of predators and animals, especially pets, poultry and pigs.
Coumatetralyl
Found in the rodenticide Racumin® used widely in East Aegean islands . Highly hazardous it inhibits blood coagulation and if rodents are exposed to coumatetralyl only once then they may survive, becoming a source of secondary poisoning, more doses lead to serious internal bleeding and death. It is metabolized relatively rapidly but even so it has been observed to cause secondary poisoning of predators, pets. This poison can also harm humans because animals may disperse the powder around inhabited areas There is also a risk of food, water and animal feed becoming contaminated.
Diphacinone
Found in the rodenticide Ditrac®. Studies in North America have shown that eagles and owls that ate poisoned animals showed signs of haemorrhaging and a study in New Zealand showed that stoats had a 71% mortality rate when fed with rodents poisoned by diphacinone.
Flocoumafen
Found in the rodenticide Storm®. This poison is particularly dangerous because it is extremely persistent in the liver of poisoned animals, its potential effect of the environment it is similar to that of brodifacoum.
http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TakeAction_Rodenticide
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