FIELD EVIDENCE OF SECONDARY POISONING OF FOXES (VULPES-VULPES) AND BUZZARDS (BUTEO-BUTEO) BY BROMADIOLONE, A 4-YEAR SURVEY

This paper presents the result of a 4 year survey in France (1991-1994 ) based on the activity of a wildlife disease surveillance network (SA GIR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detrimental effect s of anticoagulant (Ac) rodenticides in non-target wild animals. Ac po isoning accounted for a very limited number of the identified causes o f death (1-3%) in most species. Predators (mainly foxes and buzzards) were potentially exposed to anticoagulant compounds (especially bromad iolone) via contaminated prey in some instances. The liver concentrati ons of bromadiolone residues were elevated and species-specific diagno stic values were determined. These values were quite similar to those reported in the litterature when secondary anticoagulant poisoning was experimentally assessed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.