Wild rats and mice living too close to humans threaten our health. They can contaminate food, spread disease, damage property, and cause electrical fires. It makes good sense to keep rodents away from our homes. However, there are safe – and less safe ways – to get rid of them.
Many people’s first instinct is to use rodenticides – also known as rat or mouse bait – to poison the intruders. Unfortunately, misuse and overuse of these poisons are common and can harm children and pets.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County, issued the following statement in response to the current extreme heat event in our region: The record-shattering extreme heat we’re experiencing is just the latest example of our climate crisis and how it’s impacting human health now. Extreme heat is the leading […]
Wildfire activity and weather patterns vary from year to year, making it a challenge to predict the likelihood of experiencing wildfire smoke events in any given year. However, for three of the past four years, wildfire smoke in our region has exposed people to unhealthy levels of particulate air pollution for prolonged periods of time. That is why Public Health is encouraging all residents to prepare now and be Smoke Ready.
The water along the Vashon-Maury Island shoreline is getting cleaner. State officials reopened last week 116 acres of shellfish beds to harvesting along the east shoreline of Vashon and Maury islands.
It’s salmon season in our Puget Sound area! For the Duwamish River, a Superfund site in south Seattle, salmon are the healthiest options to catch and eat – particularly chum, coho, pink and sockeye! Yum! Not so sure how to catch salmon? Or not clear about the relevant fishing rules? Well, you are in luck! We talked with Emma Maceda-Maria, a lead community health advocate from the Grupo Asesor Latino who has partnered with us on our Duwamish Fun to Catch, Toxic to Eat Program since 2017.
