- Has a specially formulated peanut butter flavor that attracts rodents
- Comes with a 1-year limited warranty
- Perfect for use in garages and basements
Below, we’ll discuss the top rat poison options: you’ll get the scoop on the best chemical products as well as non-chemical and no-kill means of rat control.
We’ll also discuss step-by-step tips for rat disposal and practical methods for preventing rodents from coming back.
Here are a few chemical rat poison methods and how they work:
A popular anticoagulant bait is the JT Eaton 709-pn Bait Block—this first-generation anticoagulant bait has specially formulated blocks with a peanut butter flavor to attract and eliminate mice and rats. Fumarin and warfarin are also popular rodenticidal anticoagulants that kill rats within a few days.
Perhaps the most common type of rat poison, anticoagulants contain chemicals that deplete Vitamin K—an important component in blood clotting. When a rat ingests an anticoagulant, the poison suppresses the growth of Vitamin K in the intestinal tract and quickly diminishes vitamin levels within a matter of days, causing internal bleeding.
If you’re unsure about what type of bromethalin product to purchase, try Tomcat Rodenticide with Bromethalin—it can eliminate rats and mice within two days of ingestion. Take precautions and consider using a chemical-free option, such as traps, if you have pets in your home. Bromethalin is known to poison other animals.
This is a fast-acting neurotoxin that targets the brain and liver, and damages a rat’s central nervous system after being ingested. It eliminates rats within a few hours of consumption by causing a buildup of sodium in liver cells and fluid accumulation in the brain.
Consider using Ramik Green Bait Packs which contain pellets that can be used indoors and outdoors for controlling rats, mice, and other rodents.
Calciferols contain compounds that affect the levels of Vitamin D and calcium in a rodent’s body. High levels of Vitamin D will cause a rat to develop hypercalcemia—a condition where the calcium level is raised to such a degree that the stomach, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, and heart are all damaged by calcification. The condition will cause rodent death within a week of ingestion.
This type of rat poison is excellent at controlling rats and mice. Note that this option is very poisonous to pets and people.
Zinc or metal phosphides will react with a rodent’s stomach acid to form a toxic gas called phosphine that kills the rodent within a few days. These active ingredients are often found in rat baits that have strong garlic-like odors, which attract rodents but repel other mammals.
If you want to opt for a safer method in getting rid of rats, consider the following non-toxic options:
Depending on the type of rat poison, or rodenticide, you use—whether it be anticoagulants, phosphides, bromethalin, or calciferols—the poison will work in a variety of ways. Note that most rat poison is harmful to children and pets. Consider chemical-free options, like rat traps, if you’re worried about the effects of rodenticides on humans or other animals.
It’s important to get rid of a dead rodent as soon as possible because it can transmit a number of diseases to humans. Regardless of which method you use to get rid of a rat or mouse, follow these steps to dispose of it properly:
If you use a box trap, there’s a high probability that the rat will be alive after being caught. Follow these instructions to safely get rid of a live rat:
Most rat poisons, including the ones listed above, are toxic to humans and animals and can cause hemorrhaging. In addition, many rodenticides also present a secondary poisoning risk to animals that scavenge the dead corpses of rats. If you choose to use rat poison, be sure to keep both your pets and children away from the substances at all times.
If you believe your child or pet has accidentally ingested rat poison, look for the following symptoms. Note that symptoms may vary based on the ingredients in a poison.
If your child or pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact a poison control center immediately or call 911.
Infestations typically occur in the fall, when temperatures begin to drop and rodents are seeking warmth and shelter. Start taking the following precautionary measures at the end of summer and maintain these tactics throughout the fall and winter.
When rat poison and alternative methods fail, call a certified pest control company to eliminate your rat issue. While some exterminators may use chemicals in their remediation efforts, there are others that offer safer, eco-friendly options to get rid of rodents.
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