Desert Wildlife Center urges ‘poison‑free’ park management, recommends dumpster lids and nest‑season tree care

Desert Wildlife Center representatives told the Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Commission on July 28 that rodenticides and other landscape pesticides are poisoning local wildlife and urged the city to adopt an integrated pest‑management approach and other low‑cost measures to reduce harm. The presenters said the center, run by Greater Palm Springs Animal Allies, is the only permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility in the Coachella Valley and is already treating poisoned raptors, coyotes and songbirds. “Poisons can easily make their way into the food chain and negatively impact multiple species at once, not just the pest you’re trying to get rid of,” the commission was told, citing a statement from Micah Curtis, the center’s wildlife director. Why it matters: Witnesses said poison in bait boxes spreads up the food chain, causing illness or death among predators and pets, and that some impacts — rising mange in coyotes and poisoned owls — are already visible in the Valley. Commissioners were also warned that routine summer tree trimming is destroying nests and displacing fledglings. At the meeting, board members from Greater Palm Springs Animal Allies presented multiple practical alternatives to poisons: better dumpster management (closed and lockable lids), habitat exclusion (sealing building entry points), use of nonchemical repellents, installing raptor perches and owl boxes, and community education. “By working with nature and using natural remedies and humane practices, we can naturally control pest populations,” the commission heard, quoting the center’s wildlife director. Discussion and next steps: Commissioners asked about enforcement and applicability. Presenters said the city could act immediately on city‑owned properties (dumpster lid ordinances and procurement rules) and could strengthen existing environmentally preferable purchasing policies to favor nonchemical options. They also asked Parks and Recreation to coordinate on public‑space signage declaring parks “poison‑aware” and to time pruning to avoid February–September nesting season. The Desert Wildlife Center requested the commission refer the topic to an ad hoc committee or to staff for follow‑up research. What was not decided: The commission did not adopt a pesticide ordinance at the July 28 meeting; the presenters asked staff and commissioners to investigate and return with policy options. No formal motion or vote on specific restrictions was taken. Ending: Staff said they would work with Sustainability and the city’s purchasing team to identify possible next steps. The Desert Wildlife Center left the commission with a helpline number and offered to provide model policies used by other California municipalities.