The Quill.
ST. EUSTATIUS–A call by St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation Stenapa for rat poison to be removed from bait boxes in The Quill crater has been heeded. This week, the Stenapa Board urged researchers to remove their bait stations until further information can be obtained about the effects of the poison on other living species.
“The bait boxes with poison were set up as part of a rat-control project,” said Stenapa Director Clarisse Buma.
The project raised serious concerns among Statians about the impact on land crabs, which can consume the poison, but do not die.
“Since people regularly consume crabs, there is a possibility they may get ill because of secondary poisoning. On top of that, we do not know what the effects are on other animals, such as birds, and the vegetation”, says Buma.
The board of Stenapa is “fully aware” of the negative impact rats pose to the island,” said Buma. “But there are too many unanswered questions about the negative effects of the poison. The Board is open to the use of live rat traps without poison on The Quill as an alternative tool to get rid of the rats.”
The discussion about the land crabs has caused Stenapa to initiate a study to bring clarity about the status and numbers of land crabs and the crab industry on Statia. To date little is known about the sustainability of harvesting and exporting land crabs.
The Public Health Department recently issued an advisory against the consumption of land crabs. Rat traps baited with poison continue to function on other locations in Statia. Their future is being actively discussed by all stakeholders.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/74998-rat-poison-removed-from-statia-s-quill-national-park
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