How long does mouse poison work? - briefly
Mouse poison usually kills within one to two days after ingestion, and its effectiveness can persist for several days as the toxin remains active in the rodent’s system. After that period, any remaining bait loses potency and should be replaced.
How long does mouse poison work? - in detail
Rodenticides act at different speeds depending on their chemical class. Anticoagulants, such as bromadiolone or brodifacoum, require the animal to ingest several doses over several days; lethal effects typically appear 3–7 days after the first consumption. Single‑dose anticoagulants, like difenacoum, may cause death within 48–72 hours, but the full effect can extend to five days as clotting factors deplete.
Acute toxins, for example bromethalin or zinc phosphide, produce rapid neuro‑ or metabolic failure. Visible symptoms emerge within 30 minutes to 2 hours, and death usually occurs within 4–12 hours after ingestion. Fast‑acting neurotoxic compounds such as strychnine can kill within minutes, though they are rarely used in commercial mouse baits.
Factors influencing the timeline include:
- Dose size – larger meals accelerate toxicity.
- Age and health – juveniles and weakened individuals succumb faster.
- Species tolerance – some mouse populations have developed partial resistance to certain anticoagulants, extending the period before mortality.
- Environmental temperature – higher temperatures increase metabolic rates, shortening the onset.
Residual activity of the bait persists for weeks, depending on formulation. Granular or block baits protected by weather‑resistant coatings retain potency for 2–4 weeks when stored in dry conditions. Liquid or gel baits degrade more quickly, often losing effectiveness after 5–10 days if exposed to moisture or sunlight.
Safety considerations mandate waiting until all visible rodents are dead before handling the area. In environments where non‑target species may encounter the poison, monitoring should continue for at least 10 days to ensure secondary exposure does not occur.
In summary, the time required for a mouse poison to eliminate its target ranges from minutes for fast‑acting neurotoxins to up to a week for multi‑dose anticoagulants, with residual bait effectiveness lasting several weeks under proper storage conditions.