Haute Enchilada restaurant inspires others to use a greener alternative than rat poison

An interesting method to stop the use of pesticides in Monterey County, and it’s quite the hoot.

In Moss Landing, tucked just off the harbor lies the Haute Enchilada. A Mexican restaurant that isn’t all about the food. Not only have they ditched plastic straws, but owner Kim Solano started using owls to fight off rodents around three years ago. This was to get away from using poison, a move that has now inspired others to do the same.

David Ramierez, with the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, says they were impressed with the Haute Enchilada and “wanted to do the same.”

This location deals with a lot of rats throughout the lot. They put in their first owl box a year and a half ago, they now have nine. Two new owls just moved into one of the houses. Ramierez says, “It
was extremely exciting! I mean we put the boxes up for the owls. And it was empty for awhile… hopefully this will spur on some inspiration for the rest of the community.”

And it has. Solano has been hosting educational meetings at the restaurant to spread awareness and raise money for local schools to get these owl boxes.

Solano says, “We’ve been really fortunate to have this great public support, that at our last event we raised $1,200.”

So far they’ve already put up a box at Pajaro Valley High School and Boronda Elementary, with others on the way.