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A staff member of a store mistakenly told investigators that the rat "goed to bed" after being exposed to the deadly substance.
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Analysis found that most British barn owls contained rodent poison in their bodies due to eating small animals
According to investigators from a leading charity, some of the largest DIY chains and garden centers in the UK, including B&Q, Homebase and Wickes, are promoting pest poisons that cause "huge and long-term" suffering, rather than non-lethal deterrents.
The Humane Society International (HSI) stated that these chemicals designed to destroy rats will also kill wild animals, such as raptors such as owls, and pose a threat to humans and pets.
A clandestine shopper visited 30 stores and asked how to stop the study of rats and rats. 27 of them were recommended to use deadly poisons-mainly anticoagulants. The health and safety executive described this type as "obviously inhumane". ".
According to reports, some store staff also provided misleading information about the suffering of the animals, and one worker said that the mouse “may just fall asleep”.
Species such as foxes, badgers, shrews, barn owls, bald eagles, kestrels and red kites have all died from exposure to rodenticides or eating poisoned small mammals.
According to the Barn Owl Trust, 87% of wild barn owls in the UK have been found to have ingested rodenticide.
HSI said its research found that the stores with the highest percentage of "pest control" poisons were Wickes (83% of rodent control products) and Dobbies (68% of rodent products).
The animal protection organization said that in all the stores visited, the lethal products sold far exceeded the non-lethal products. Some staff mistakenly told secret shoppers that the anticoagulant poison “has little or no animal suffering”.
The researchers pointed out that 18 of the 30 stores had staff recommending poison as the main treatment, while 25 of the 27 stores where staff recommended poisons did not recommend setting up bait stations-one to prevent other animals or children Poison entering the protective box-must be used.
B&Q and Wilko ranked lowest in providing effective and humane advice on how to deal with unpopular wild animals.
The researcher reported that a Dobbies store worker said the poison "only caused stomach pain," while another store worker said a mouse "may sleep."
HSI's UK branch stated that when the findings of the investigation were learned, Wickes decided to introduce humane options within its pest control area.
Dobis said that even before the investigation, it had decided to stop selling all fatal or inhumane products.
According to data from the Health and Safety Executive, 93% of all rodenticide products authorized for sale in the UK cause slow internal bleeding.
The poisoned mice may suffer severe pain and difficulty breathing for up to two days before they die. HSI says that it can take up to 9 days for mice to die, while animals that take lower doses suffer longer.
Claire Bass, executive director of the organization, said: “The largest DIY and garden store in the United States is full of these products. Staff often recommend them without mentioning any danger.
"In addition to being inhumane, poison is not a sustainable solution, because once the poison is taken away, other rodents will return."
David Ramsdon of the Barn Owl Trust said: "This report represents a truly shocking view of how a major UK retailer can legally sell highly toxic systems to untrained people. And the accusation of the curse.
"Unfortunately, even the industry-wide'management system' has failed to reduce the widespread pollution of our precious wildlife."
A Dobbies spokesperson said: “HSI/UK was informed that Dobbies will continue to provide a range of welfare-friendly non-lethal products for wildlife control.”
A B&Q spokesperson said: “As a responsible retailer, we provide mandatory hazardous substance training for all store employees. The product packaging also provides the necessary information for the safe use of these products. We recommend that customers read this information before purchasing. We It also provides alternative'pest control' products such as sonic repellents, attractants and insect repellent sprays."
A Homebase spokesperson stated that we will continue to review and edit the scope to provide options, adding: "Our e-learning course includes a training module on rodenticides, with training specifically related to rodent control. The materials provide support, so the team can guide customers to make smart choices. This will remain the focus as part of our 2021 training plan."
Wilko stated that its products comply with all regulations regarding sales and usage instructions, adding: “As an ethical retailer, we encourage all team members and customers to read product labels very carefully to ensure that they choose the label that suits them. We believe that the families shopping with us will carefully follow the recommendations on the label."
The Independent asked Wicks for comment, but had not received any response at the time of publication.
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Analysis found that most British barn owls contained rodent poison in their bodies due to eating small animals
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