The Rural Agents have filed a complaint against an individual for possession of several highly toxic poisons. As could be read on the labels of the seized containers, their contents were intended to kill wild animals such as foxes. The action, which took place in premises near a farmhouse in Alt Urgell, was carried out by members of the Special Group of Verins and Antifurtivisme and the Special Group of Col·laboració amb la Justicia del Cos d'Agents Rurals.
The use of poison is a criminal offense that can carry prison sentences of four months to two years and its possession is prohibited by the Animal Protection Law and other regulations that prohibit storing out-of-use phytosanitary products.
Among the different seized products, nearly four kilos of Aldicarb have been found, a phytosanitary product banned at European level due to its toxicity for people and the natural environment. As well as another product with strychnine, another powerful poison widely used in the last century. These are poisons that can kill wild and domestic animals and create a chain effect, since the species that die become a new bait that causes the death of fauna that ends up eating it.
People who have these prohibited poisons must inform themselves and carry out correct management at an authorized waste manager. Its use, in addition to causing loss of biodiversity and uncontrolled mortality because the poison does not select the species and kills indiscriminately, causing chain deaths, represents a public health danger when baits or animals that may have been poisoned are handled.
Since 2014, when the Rural Agents intensified this type of investigations, 25 reports have been made for this reason. On the other hand, since 2005, there have been 25 convictions throughout Catalonia, with a total of 38 people convicted.
The Rural Agents have an active information and awareness campaign to raise awareness among citizens of the serious consequences of the use of poisons in the natural environment. Under the title 'We fight against poisons', the campaign warns about the consequences of the use of poisons with respect to loss of biodiversity and uncontrolled mortality, since the poison does not select the species and kills indiscriminately, causing chain deaths.
The campaign emphasizes the importance of citizen collaboration to be able to minimize or eliminate the effects of poison and identify poisoners, which is often extremely complex. It also warns about the danger to public health, since handling bait or poisoned animals carries a very significant risk.
In this sense, the Rural Agents remind that if a possible case of poisoning is detected, in no case should bait or animals that may have been poisoned be handled and ask that you immediately call 112 or directly to the body, through the Permanent telephone number 24 hours a day, 365 days a year that answers citizen calls: 93 561 70 00 where a first response will be given.
