🦉 84% of dead birds of prey found in NYC tested positive for anticoagulant rat poison, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Wildlife Unit. Most bait boxes in NYC use poison that stops blood from clotting, so a poisoned rat bleeds internally over several days before dying. That means the rat stays alive long enough to be caught and eaten by a predator, and the poison moves straight up the chain. Flaco, the beloved eagle-owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo, had four different rodenticides in his system when he died. Meanwhile, NYC still has an estimated 3 million rats — this approach isn't even solving the problem it's meant to solve. The good news: there are ways to reduce rat populations that don't rely on poison. Rodent-proof trash containers, sealed composting, and blocking off burrows and food sources all reduce rat numbers by cutting off what rats need to survive — without harming the hawks, owls, and other wildlife that share our city. Sign the petition and tell NYC lawmakers to invest in solutions that work for people and wildlife alike: 🔗 buff.ly/85TK4Pw