Abstract
Summary
The relative efficiencies of 8 common rodenticides were determined by offering the poisons to recently trapped wild Norway rats in a standard bait (freshly ground cornmeal) under standard conditions. The voluntary consumption of baits containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080), alpha-naph-thyl thiourea (ANTU), thallium sulfate and zinc phosphide resulted in complete kills at concentrations of 0.5% or lower. A sample of arsenic trioxide of relatively high toxicity required a concentration of 4% for a complete kill. All the female rats offered 5% of a good grade of fortified red squill died, but higher concentrations, and all concentrations offered to male rats, gave only partial kills. Barium carbonate gave good but not complete kills at concentrations up to 50%, while strychnine sulfate killed few rats in the range tested.
The amounts of unpoisoned cornmeal consumed on 2 successive nights, by male and female wild Norway rats in various weight groups were determined. The addition of every poison except thallium sulfate to the cornmeal caused a considerable reduction in intake, owing either to recognition of the poison or to a rapid onset of toxic effects.
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