Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Avitrol?
What is Avitrol used for ?
Can Avitrol be used without mortality?
Are birds affected by Avitrol in pain?
What factors affect mortality?
On what birds may Avitrol be used?
Does Avitrol pose a threat to other species?
Is there a secondary poisoning problem with Avitrol?
Are permits required for the use of Avitrol?
How is Avitrol used?
More Questions?
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| What is Avitrol? |
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Avitrol, as applied, is a chemically treated bait. |
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| What is Avitrol used for ? |
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Avitrol is used as a chemical frightening agent to remove pest birds from a given location. Birds eating the treated
bait will be affected in a manner that will artificially cause them to emit distress and alarm cries and visual displays used by their species. This
will frighten the flock and cause them to leave the site.
On some species Avitrol may be used as an avicide. |
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| Can Avitrol be used without mortality? |
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No. There will always be some mortality with Avitrol. |
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| Are birds affected by Avitrol in pain? |
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No. An adversarial group conducted university tests to determine if birds affected by Avitrol were in pain. Their
conclusion, which is consistent with other researchers, was that the affected birds were not in pain. Copies of this paper, prepared by the
Department of Pathology of the University of Ottawa, are available upon request. |
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| What factors affect mortality? |
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There are a number of factors that may affect mortality.
- The time of day the chemical is ingested is a major influence. Birds eating the treated bait after feeding may have:
a) a reduced reaction
b) a delayed reaction
c) no reaction at all.
This may cause problems if the birds die away from the treatment site.
- The blend ratio of treated to untreated is a major factor in mortality.
- The temperature. The colder the weather, the higher the mortality. The reason for this is twofold. First, when it
is cold, a birds metabolism is higher. Second, when it is colder, a bird eats more. The effect of these two factors is more active ingredient in a
bird's system more quickly.
- The general health of the flock and competing food sources are qualitative factors influencing mortality.
Concluding this important subject of mortality, early morning baiting, cold weather and high ratio of treated to untreated will increase
mortality, but will also give quicker flock control.
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| On what birds may Avitrol be used? |
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Avitrol may be used to control:
House sparrows
Pigeons
Starlings
Crows
Blackbirds (Red-winged, Rusty, Brewers, and Yellow headed )
Grackles
Cowbirds
Gulls
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| Does Avitrol pose a threat to other species? |
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If not properly used, yes. Avitrol is toxic to all vertebrate species that eat the chemical. |
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| Is there a secondary poisoning problem with Avitrol? |
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No. Avitrol has no true secondary poisoning. It is possible that if an animal were to eat
undigested bait from a bird's digestive tract that it might be affected. We have not seen this occur in field applications.
Secondary Hazards Report |
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| Are permits required for the use of Avitrol? |
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The Federal government does not currently require permits for use of Avitrol on any birds listed on the Avitrol
Labels, EXCEPT FOR GULLS. State or local government regulations may require permits. This is why the label requires that the
applicator check for the existence of such permitting requirements. |
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| How is Avitrol used? |
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- Survey the site in accordance with NPMA survey recommendations.
- Pre bait the site at locations indicated by your survey, with a food
similar to the Avitrol bait which will be used. For instance, pre
bait with clean, whole kernel corn if you plan to bait with Avitrol Whole
Corn.
- We recommend pre baiting and baiting for pigeons in wooden bait trays, two feet square or larger.
- We are frequently asked how long to pre bait. The answer is as long
as it takes. Pre baiting should continue uninterrupted until
the flock is eating well. This will usually require two weeks or less
but in some
cases a substantially longer time is required.
- When pre baiting, it is helpful to remember that a flock of 100 pigeons will eat 7-10 pounds of grain bait
per day. When bait acceptance is good, one would expect the flock to eat 3½ to 10 pounds of grain per 100 birds per day.
- Once the pre-bait is accepted as described above, decide upon a blend ratio of Avitrol treated grain to
untreated grain. The higher the percentage of Avitrol treated grain in the blend, the higher the mortality will be, but usually the quicker the results.
- Using Avitrol treated grain similar to the grain used for pre baiting, blend the treated bait, following label
instructions and precautions, and place it in the bait locations used for pre baiting.Do not
allow a lapse of time between pre baiting and baiting.
- Since there will always be mortality, arrange to pick up dead and dying birds promptly and dispose of them in
accordance with local regulations. Failure to do this is the most common cause of public complaint.
- Birds accustomed to taking pre bait will usually go directly to the bait after leaving the roost in the morning.
Because they have fasted all night, their metabolism will be relatively high and the effect of any chemical will
be felt more quickly than at other times of the day. Therefore, it is recommended that the blend of treated
and untreated be exposed before daylight on the treatment days and in sensitive areas picked up on the same day.
- Cycle the above steps until you achieve the control you require.
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