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Toddler finds rat trap with poison at park

Posted at 5:45 PM, Dec 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-28 10:08:43-05

A Carlsbad mother is upset after her toddler discovered a rat trap with poison at a local park.

Abby Rowland's 2-year-old son was playing at Calavera Park when he made the discovery.

"I was shocked, I immediately pulled up his sleeves, I took my water bottle and rinsed his hands in case there was any residue on there that I didn't see," Rowland said.

Rowland pointed out the spot near the picnic tables where little Noah found the rat trap filled with poison.

"He picked up a box and proudly handed it to me, and lo and behold it was rat poison," Rowland said.

Rowland told 10News the one he found was along the perimeter where kids also play.

The mother says although her son didn't touch the poison, she believes the trap put her and other children at risk and was a tragedy waiting to happen.

"They explore with their hands, they explore with their mouths, it could have easily been ingested," she said.

10News noticed another trap, but that one was on the opposite side of the fence that surrounds the city-operated park.

Rowland bagged up the trap and plans to turn it in.

She says the area should have been taped off or had signs posted about the traps to keep kids safe.

"The park is a place where children should be able to play with a reasonable degree of safety, and that was just completely ignored," Rowland said.

10News reached out to the City Sunday, but a park supervisor was not available for comment.