What substances are used to poison mice? - briefly
Common rodenticides include anticoagulant compounds such as warfarin, bromadiolone and difenacoum, alongside neurotoxic agents like bromethalin, zinc phosphide and strychnine. These chemicals cause death by interfering with blood clotting, cellular respiration or nerve transmission.
What substances are used to poison mice? - in detail
Rodenticides employed against mice fall into several chemical families, each with a distinct mechanism of toxicity.
Anticoagulant agents disrupt blood clotting by inhibiting vitamin K recycling. Common compounds include «warfarin», «bromadiolone», «diphacinone», «brodifacoum», «chlorophacinone» and «difenacoum». These substances are formulated as pellets or liquid baits and require multiple feedings to achieve lethal hemorrhage.
Non‑anticoagulant toxicants act through alternative physiological pathways. Representative agents are «zinc phosphide», which releases phosphine gas in the acidic stomach environment; «sodium fluoroacetate», which interferes with cellular metabolism; «cholecalciferol», a hyper‑vitamin D analogue causing hypercalcemia; «phosphoric acid», inducing rapid gastric corrosion; and «bromethalin», a neurotoxin that uncouples mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. These poisons are typically presented in block or grain formulations and may produce mortality after a single ingestion.
Secondary considerations include bait palatability, resistance development, and regulatory restrictions. Anticoagulants are subject to strict limits in many jurisdictions due to secondary poisoning risk, whereas non‑anticoagulant compounds often carry specific handling and disposal requirements. Selection of an appropriate agent depends on target species behavior, environmental exposure, and compliance with local pest‑control legislation.