The Silent Killer – Raptors and Rodenticide

Rat baits work by accumulating poison in the body of rats and mice until it reaches lethal levels. In the meantime, the rodents continue to move around, until they become immobilised in an open area and may be preyed upon by pets and wildlife. The poison then accumulates in the predators and slowly kills them too, hence The Silent Killer.

Most people don’t know that there are a number of different types of rat baits, and that some are far more dangerous to wildlife than others.  ‘Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides’ (SGARs) are extremely dangerous because they remain in the bodies of poisoned rats for a long time, which increases the likelihood that they will be eaten by Owls and other predators.

SGARs are also more dangerous to pets and humans. In fact, SGARs are already banned or regulated in many other countries because of this, despite being freely available in our local supermarkets.

Scientific studies in Australia have already found these poisons in dead wildlife so the time to act is now!;

What can you do?

• Use traps rather than baits. Both lethal and non-lethal traps are available.
• Deter rats by cleaning up food scraps, blocking holes, destroying nests and removing safe harbour around your property as much as is practical.
• Use only the less harmful baits containing coumatetralyl or warfarin and carefully follow package instructions.
• Store and place baits so that wildlife and children can’t reach them.
• If you can’t find the safer baits at your local shop, ask the manager to stock them and make them aware of this campaign.
• DO NOT USE rat baits that contain any of these active ingredients: difenacoum, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Please donate now or purchase our merchandise – available in our shop.
All proceeds go towards helping conserve Australian Wildlife.
Supported by Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation and the Awesome Foundation