(NaturalNews) When someone thinks of New York City, an area that's brimming with wildlife isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. However, it's home to many, including the mate of a red-tailed hawk in Manhattan that, unfortunately, is said to have died when it ingested a rat tainted with rat poison. (1)

Such is the fate for many animals -- including residents' cats and dogs -- that is sweeping the city as people hope to curtail the presence of rats by giving them poison. However, it's been found that many predators and domestic animals have died due to eating rats that previously consumed lethal chemicals set out by humans.

To keep wildlife safe and, in turn, help preserve the natural flow of the ecosystem, several groups have joined together to raise awareness of the rat poisoning issue. Specifically, they are calling for a ban on rat poison. Coordinating the petition is Jonathan Evans, a lawyer involved with the Center for Biological Diversity, a San Francisco-based group, who says that the poison effects predators that feed on small animals. (1)

Banning the pesticides that kill small rodents essential for wildlife protection

Other groups involved in urging a ban include New York City Audubon, the American Bird Conservancy and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. (1) All have their eyes on pesticides like over-the-counter d-Con, whose manufacturer agreed in May 2014 to phase out products that did not adhere to safety standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The groups hope to ban second-generation anticoagulants, a pest control method that creates uncontrollable internal bleeding in an animal that leads to their death. However, Mr. Even states these anticoagulants linger in the tissues of animals that eat them and that when predators then eat the poisoned rodents, they "may ingest a toxic dose far beyond the amount needed to kill the rodent and be lethally poisoned from just one feeding."

Taking action protects environment for all of humanity

Health Ranger Mike Adams feels that "we are all connected with nature" and that the "death and destruction of our natural world has reached a breaking point." (2) He said, "As nature suffers and dies, we feel the pain in our hearts and minds. ... When life dies around us, those of us with empathy and compassion feel that pain." (2)

Positive efforts such as the ones made by these groups demonstrate the importance of taking a stance against harmful pesticides, for both humans and other animals. Harmful pesticides are a vicious part of the food chain that affects what all animals eat, and getting rid of them is essential for the betterment of the environment and the health of all on this planet.

When it comes to larger predators, researchers from Oregon State University note that many of their numbers are dwindling as well. "The preservation or recovery of large predators may represent an important conservation need for helping to maintain the resiliency of northern forest ecosystems, especially in the face of a rapidly changing climate," they said. (3)

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://www.nytimes.com

(2) http://www.naturalnews.com

(3) http://www.kpic.com

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia