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The zoo warned about the dangers the owl would face in the urban wild, warnings that would prove prophetic twelve months later when Flaco would succumb to the dual poisons of rodenticide and a herpesvirus contracted from pigeons.

Mountain lions in the Los Angeles area deal with many challenges -- busy roadways where they're often killed, wildfires, rodenticide exposure, low genetic diversity and fragmented habitat.

“Effective rodenticide products are necessary for protecting the health and safety of people, structures and businesses — including those responsible for food safety — from the diseases and property damage caused by rats and other harmful rodents,” Provost said in a statement.

The order said that the filters are unregistered pesticides sold in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Wolfaardt said four to six helicopters will likely be used to drop up to 550 tons of rodenticide bait across the island.