Rodenticides banned at all Clarington recreation facilities

Clarington has banned the use of rodenticides at all municipal recreation facilities as of July 1.

The municipality conducted a pilot project at the Courtice Community Complex in the first half of this year in response to concerns raised by residents about how rodenticide use can be unintentionally harmful to other wildlife, pets, and children.

The project demonstrated that identifying and addressing potential access points and using traps kept mice and rats out of the facility just as effectively as rodenticides.

The trial program got underway January 2 with staff looking at the exterior of the building to identify potential points of entry. A few improvements to mitigate rodent entry were made and then staff were directed remove all interior rodenticide traps from the building. These were replaced with tin catch traps. Since the trial began, the contractor has conducted bi-weekly inspections of the property and no visible rodent activity has been documented.

The program was the rolled out to Clarington’s six other recreation facilities – Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, Garnet Rickard Recreation Complex, South Courtice Arena, Bowmanville Indoor Soccer/Lacrosse Bowl, Darlington Sports Centre and Diane Hamre Recreation Complex – after the policy was approved at the June 3 General Government Committee meeting.

Staff will now work with other departments and stakeholders to expand the rodenticide-free program.

The only other community to Durham to adopt a similar program is the City of Pickering, which adopted a pest management policy that bans all non-essential rodenticide use on municipal properties last December.

Annual costs for the program will be $3,500, with $1,800 in this year’s budget for the roll-out to the other recreation facilities.