Over the weekend, neighborhood blog RichmondSF received word from patrons and dog owners out enjoying Sutro Heights park that someone had spread rat poison around the grass in the park putting kids, pets and wildlife in danger.

A Parks volunteer was out yesterday warning visitors to be careful with their pets and children in the area, as rat poison is not generally something you want your various little loved ones rolling around in. In fact, it's best to avoid the park altogether for now: At least one dog owner who visited the park this weekend reported that their pet was "foaming at the mouth and panting heavily" after sniffing around the grass. That animal pulled through, but the animal lovers at the Appeal point us to a helpful list of symptoms of rat poison ingestion if you think your pet fell victim to the villainous parkgoer.

As for the wildlife that live in the park overlooking the Cliff House: a hawk apparently ingested some of the poison and volunteers we unable to treat the animal before he suffered an "excruciating death" in the trees. Officials weren't sure yet whether or not a coyote commonly spotted in the park had been poisoned.

[RichmondSF]

[SFAppeal]