Oregon Public Broadcasting

Silver canisters of rat poison are turning up on Pacific Northwest beaches and officials are warning beachcombers not to open them. Pete Springer reports.

People reported seeing the canisters last weekend during a beachcombers fair in Ocean Shores, Washington.

Twenty canisters about ten inches long and three inches in diameter were found.

Officials are warning people not to open any that they find.

Kim Schmanke is with the Washington Ecology Department.

Kim Schmanke: “It’s aluminum phosphide inside and once you pop the top off, it becomes phosphine gas which is highly toxic.  It’s meant to kill rats.”

Schmanke says the containers appear to be from China but officials don’t know what ship—or ships—they are from.

Beachcombers from Manazanita on the Oregon coast to Canada have reported finding the canisters.

Anyone who finds one is urged to report its location to the Washington Ecology Department.