Predators at Risk: The Deadly Journey of Rodenticides with Mary-Beth Kaeser

Saturday, September 5, 2026

For Ages 16 and up

From mice in the pantry to rats in the barn, rodents have posed health and economic challenges for people for thousands of years. Today, a variety of effective rodent control methods are available, with prevention serving as the most important and successful first line of defense.

The use of anticoagulant rodenticides, particularly second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), unintentionally poisons native wildlife when predators consume contaminated rodents. Species such as hawks, owls, eagles, bobcats, fishers, foxes, and other predators are especially vulnerable to these secondary effects. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques offer safer, effective alternatives that reduce rodent populations without the use of poisons, helping protect wildlife and pets.

Join Raptor Rehabilitator Mary-Beth Kaeser, owner of Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center https://www.horizonwings.org/and her live avian ambassadors to learn more about what you can do to protect your home from rodents while protecting the other wildlife sharing your yard. Mary-Beth reports that close to 80% of the birds she rehabilitates have some level of rodenticide poisoning! This alarming statistic illustrates that the issue of rodenticide usage needs to be addressed.

A PowerPoint presentation will accompany this program.  Due to its serious and disturbing nature, this presentation is open to individuals ages 16 and up.

2:00 p.m., Carriage House, Free…but you must pre-register here:  Predators at Risk Registration

Donations to this program will help fund White Memorial’s new aviary for our raptor ambassadors.

This presentation is made possible by a generous donor in honor of Shirley Helbourg Perez