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THERE IS NO SAFE RAT POISON! Do not take the word of pest control operators - do your own research by looking up the Material Data Sheets for the active ingredient in any pesticide or rodenticide that a pest control company recommends! Commercial rodenticides contain an anti-coagulant rodenticide called brodifacoum (broh-dif'-a-coom) that causes secondary poisoning when raptors consume rodents that have been poisoned. In studies in both California and New York, brodifacoum was found to account for 80% of the secondary poisonings by rodenticides, even though it accounted for only 20% of sales. Brodifacoum is found in the following commonly used products: D-con, Talon, Havoc. It is extremely dangerous to birds through secondary exposure. It can harm pets as well if they consume a poisoned rodent. It is marketed as a "single feed" rodenticide, BUT the rodent takes several days to die and during that time it can continue feeding on the poison, so that is extremely toxic if eaten by a predator. The poison causes thirst which causes the rodent to go outdoors in search of water and this is when it is likely to get preyed on by raptors or cats.

Brodifacoum and other commonly used rodenticides are currently under review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to concerns about harmful effects on wildlife and the accidental poisonings of pets and children. There is NO safe rat poison that can be used around pets. Rodenticides are designed to kill. Treat any statement that products can be "safely" used with caution. (Barn Owl Trust, United Kingdom)

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed implementing restrictions on the use of these poisons and received hundreds of public comments on its proposed mitigation, and the decision was due in 2007, but has continually been delayed. WildCare has had patients come in with suspected brodifacoum poisoning. In July 2007, two juvenile Cooper's Hawks were found dead in a wading pool in Berkeley. Both tested positive for rodenticide poisoning! Accidental or not, the death of raptors by use of rodenticides can be a Federal offense under certain circumstances. More importantly, raptors are a keystone species of the natural food web. The use of poison can cause the natural balance to actually tip in favor of the pest, as happened in the Mexican state of Chihuahua when rat poison killed cats and wildlife that preyed on rats, resulting in the village of Atascaderos being over run with rats. Full story (pdf file) can be read here.

If you think poisoning a rat is no big deal, please read this story and imagine that instead of being about a rat, it's about your cat or your dog, or your child, or a beautiful coyote, hawk, eagle, or owl. Read exactly what happens to a creature that eats rat poison: in PDF or HTML format. Only one product has been available that kills rodents without causing secondary poisoning to other creatures: Rodetrol. Unfortunetly, this product is currently unavailable as it has been pulled from the market for "reformulating" and we have not been able to get any information on when it will become available again. This product is effective, especially when mixed with an attractant like peanut butter. Currently, it can be found only on e-Bay. Rodetrol does not use poison - it interferes with the unique water absorption system of rats.

Rodents are an important link in the food chain for many species of wildlife in addition to hawks and owls. Secondary poisoning has been documented in such top predators as mountain lions in Ventura County, CA prompting severe restrictions on the use of poisons in public parks and open space. There are native rat species that belong in the environment, such as Wood Rats (aka Pack Rats), as well as the non-native roof and Norway rats that we are more likely to see in or around our buildings. Dusky-footed Wood Rats should never be persecuted or poisoned as they are the favored prey of the endangered Northern Spotted Owl, and are not generally found in or near human habitations. Oppossums are also very likely to eat any rat poison placed out doors. Poisoning rodents, including gophers & moles, destroys the balance and can make rodent problems much worse. If you are seeing rats/mice outdoors - consider the philosopy of Live and Let Live examine your yard to see what food and harborage you may be providing for rats. Exclusion and sanitation are the most effective means of solving a rodent problem in or around the home!

What YOU Can Do to Help Raptors & Solve Rodent Problems

If you have a rodent problem, try non-chemical methods first. The key aspects are:
• Remove piles of yard debris, trash, construction waste, etc. where rats or mice could make homes.
• Eliminate food sources. Don't leave pet food outside. Keep wild birdseed and other materials rats or mice may eat (such as some organic fertilizers) in rodent-proof containers. Collect and remove fallen fruit from fruit trees in the yard.
• Exclude rodents from your home. Rodents can squeeze through amazingly small holes - 1/4 inch for mice and 1/2 inch for rats. Go around the outside of your house looking for openings and seal them with metal, hardware cloth, mortar, concrete, or Stuf-fit Copper Mesh Wool, which can be found online or at hardware stores.

  For more detailed suggestions on exclusion and sanitation to reduce rodent problems in and around the home Download and print this flyer (pdf file).

  If you are having any kind of conflict with wildlife, please don't call pest control companies or trappers - they make a living killing wildlife! Please contact one of the following humane resources:

  Information on wildlife conflict resolution

  San Francisco Rescued Orphan Mammal Program (SF ROMP)

  WildCare's Wildlife Solutions Service - Protecting their home and yours!

  If these methods do not help, and you feel you must kill rodents inside a building, consider the Rat Zapper. Information available at http://www.ratzapper.com: kills rodents with no harm to the environment, your pets, or your family. For indoor use only! "...I got a battery powered RatZapper from our Ace Hardware, and killed nine rats in five days. I have no rats now." Bob Twiss Ross (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/14/06). It is also possible to use catch and release traps for rodents instead of killing them, followed by exclusion to avoid having to deal with the problem again later. You could also make your own humane, catch-and-release, mousetrap!

  Below is a list of wildlife friendly pest control operators in Marin & Sonoma counties. Please note that if rodents must be exterminated, the Hungry Owl Project recommends only the Rat Zapper, or snap traps (these work best when baited with peanut butter & oatmeal) used inside bait boxes with openings small enough to keep out non-target animals, and only for use inside buildings. Recommended bait: Skippy Super Chunk peanut butter. The Hit Men swear by it! (It must be the Skippy brand - lots of sugar.) Ask the Bugman recommends baiting traps with Slim Jim. Use of traps outdoors can kill non-target wildlife and pets.

  Additionally, HOP recommends AGAINST the use of sticky traps to catch rodents. These traps are horribly cruel, and when used outdoors, can catch other non-target animals, such as birds. The country of Australia has actually recognized how cruel they are and is considering outlawing them! Where to order humane mouse traps for catch and release of rodents.

  Ask the Bugman recommends Tin Cat or Repeater humane mouse traps baited with oatmeal. After catching the rodent, release it outdoors.

  RESOURCES

  Gophers & Moles

  List of Gopher Resistant Plants (pdf)

  Critter Repellent

  Gophers Limited - Thomas Wittman

  Underground Movement - Gophers

  "The Gopher Guy" (gopher and mole trapping)
  Gregg Crawford: 707-537-1415 or 707-799-6730

  The Gopher Underground - Bay Nature Magazine, in which we learn that gophers play an important role in keeping our soil healthy.

  Making gophers go away, without applying poison An article from the San Francisco Chronicle about non-toxic gopher control and a seminar on May 10, 2006 in Santa Cruz, CA

  Harmony Farm Supply - Gopher Traps and other Non-toxic products

  Please note: we do not advocate the killing of any creature, but we know that it is sometimes deemed necessary and if it has to happen we want to offer people the least cruel and least toxic options.

  RATS!

  Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control Brochure on Rats

  The Hit Men - Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The Hit Men specialize in non-toxic pest control using exclusion - sealing up holes that allow the pests in. They can also assist with outdoor rat problems, such as rats destroying garden crops.

  Bio-Pest: Earth Friendly Pest Control for Marin & Sonoma

  GET SET, INC.

  Havahart & Victor Pest Control

  Sieg's Abatement 707-762-7271

  Ask the Bug Man! Environmentally Safe Ways to Control Household Pests—including a suggestion for a non-toxic gopher deterrent.

  What You Can Do to Control Rats - Marin / Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District

  How To Manage Pests - University of California

  A Guide to House Mouse Control (pdf) from beyondpesticides.org

  Further Reading

  Coyote Survives Rodenticide Poisoning

  White-tailed Kite Poisoned by Rodenticide

  Rats! Running rampant in Marin! - Marin Independent Journal, 09/17/05. Note: this article states that one bird feeder can support a family of six rats! Clean up under feeders, and bring them indoors at night to reduce rat attractants!

  Brodifacoum Quick Facts The American Bird Conservancy, with its National Pesticide Reform Coalition, is leading the fight to oppose the pesticides industry effort to continue selling this deadly poison with approval from the EPA.

  A case study of secondary rodenticide poisoning to raptors. This article also provides detailed information about Brodifacoum, as well as links to other sources of information about this dangerous chemical.

  Rodenticides or the risks of Brodifacoum for owls

  Californians for Alternatives to Toxics