Tomcat Rat Poisons

Rats can not only be a nuisance but also spread many dangerous diseases to both livestock and humans. Diseases from rats can spread by either transport via fleas and ticks the rodents transfer that can transmit a variety of parasites. Rats may carry illnesses through their own saliva, feces, and urine.

Just some of the risks of having rats around are trichinosis, leptospirosis, rat bite fever, salmonellosis, and plague. Plague is more commonly associated with roof rats than Norway rats. So, taking care of a rat problem is important not only because of the nuisance they can cause but for health reasons.

Common rat poison uses the active ingredients diphacinone and bromethalin. Diphacinone is generally known as the first-generation anticoagulants or multiple-feed rodenticides. This type of rat poison requires several feedings over many days or even up to a week to kill off rats.

You do need a little patience as it takes time for the poison to work through the rats’ systems, but reviews are primarily on the positive side for effectiveness. Bromethalin is a nerve toxin that often work more successfully on anticoagulant-resistant rats.

Remember to have a little patience. Rat populations are often problematic to exterminate. So, having a rodenticide that you can continue to use through the year over a number of doses can be a worthy feature.

If you find the rats or mice are not taking the bait, quite literally, other enticements can be mixed with pellets or set at the entrance of bait stations. While wearing gloves, you can drop a dab of peanut butter onto bait chunks. (Never touch the poison with a spreader and re-dip into a peanut butter container!)

The granules are easier to mix in with other food items the rodents might find appealing, such as nut butter, or crumbled crackers or bread if you select the pellets instead. As long as the rodents eat the poison it should be effective.

So, try out adding things such as cheese, crumbs, or a few mashed berries with the poison. The more you mix the lure and poison together, the more successful it will be. Setting treats near bait offers no guarantee of success.

Rat poison stations are small enough that larger pets such as cats and dog cannot get into them. This peace of mind is an essential benefit for pet owners who do not want to leave poison out around their yard where pets or other wildlife can accidentally consume the rodenticide. These rodent killers can kill pets, or at minimum make them extremely ill. So, use caution as you consider pets and other wildlife.

Keep all garbage lids sealed tightly and use metal cans if possible. Rats can chew through plastic garbage cans. If you have fruit or crabapple trees in your yard, be diligent about cleaning up any fallen fruit or berries. This can be an easily overlooked source of food for rats. Bird baths can be an easy source of water for rats, especially if they are lower to the ground or easy to climb.

Always wear gloves when picking up dead rodents. Even after removing gloves, wash your hands thoroughly. Dispose of rodents in well-sealed plastic bags. Remember that the poison is still in the carcass, even after the rodent is dead.

Additionally, mites or ticks could still be on the rat or mouse and can carry potential diseases the rodent may have contracted before death. Use every caution you can to prevent yourself from coming in contact not only with toxins but also with potential illnesses and fleas the rat might have carried.