Which rat poison is best? - briefly
Brodifacoum, a second‑generation anticoagulant, provides the greatest efficacy for both indoor and outdoor rodent control because it works with a single dose and remains potent for several days. Its high toxicity to non‑target animals restricts usage to carefully managed settings.
Which rat poison is best? - in detail
When selecting an effective rodent control product, evaluate toxicity, speed of action, resistance profile, secondary‑poisoning risk, and legal status.
- Anticoagulants – first‑generation (warfarin, chlorophacinone) require multiple feedings, are prone to resistance, and pose moderate secondary‑poisoning risk.
- Second‑generation anticoagulants (bromadiolone, difenacoum, brodifacoum) act after a single dose, overcome many resistance mechanisms, and have higher persistence, increasing danger to non‑target species.
- Bromethalin disrupts cellular energy production, kills within 24–48 hours, shows low resistance, but may cause neurologic signs in predators.
- Cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) induces fatal hypercalcemia, effective after one dose, minimal resistance, limited secondary impact due to rapid metabolism.
- Zinc phosphide releases phosphine gas in the stomach, lethal within hours, unsuitable for indoor use, high acute toxicity to mammals.
For indoor environments where children or pets are present, a single‑dose anticoagulant with low secondary risk, such as cholecalciferol, offers a balance of efficacy and safety. In outdoor settings with established resistance, second‑generation anticoagulants provide reliable control but require strict placement to avoid wildlife exposure. Where rapid knock‑down is essential and non‑target risk can be managed, bromethalin delivers swift mortality.
Overall, the optimal choice depends on location, target species, and exposure constraints; cholecalciferol emerges as the most versatile option for most residential applications, while second‑generation anticoagulants remain the preferred solution for severe infestations in uncontrolled outdoor areas.