https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodifacoum
Brodifacoum is highly lethal to mammals and birds, and extremely lethal to fish. It is a highly cumulative poison, due to its high lipophilicity and extremely slow elimination.
Following are acute LD50 values for a variety of animals:
* rats (oral) 0.27 mg/kg b.w.[5]
* mice (oral) 0.40 mg/kg b.w.[5]
* rabbits (oral) 0.30 mg/kg b.w.[5]
* guinea-pigs (oral) 0.28 mg/kg b.w.[5]
* squirrels (oral) 0.13 mg/kg b.w.[6]
* cats (oral)[7] 0.25 mg/kg[8][5] — 25 mg/kg [9][10][11][12][5][13]
* dogs (oral) 0.25 — 3.6 mg/kg b.w.[5][8][9][10][11][12]
* birds LD50 values for various birds varies from about 1 mg/kg b.w. — 20 mg/kg b.w.[4]
* fish — LC50 for fish:
** trout (96 hours exposure) 0.04 ppm[14]
Given these extremely high toxicities
In a nutshell those new second generation Rodentcides are more toxic than the original product. They persist longer in animals and they are highly persistent in the environment. They are extremely toxic to fish and who knows what other aquatic creatures. How about the endangered Western pond turtle?
They were developed because rats have become somewhat resistant to the original warfarin products. And it was thought that from a marketing perspective that being able to market products as “single feeding” poisons would be more profitable. Commercial companies hired to control pests using poisons would have to monitor the bait stations less frequently and they would be able to make more money. As far as I can determine second generation Rodentcides are the primary products that are described in this manner.
And while they have been banned for retail sale in California they are still found in many homes, and can still be purchased and used commercially, agriculturally, and sold wholesale in California. One can go online and easily buy five pound tubs. So it is simply incorrect to believe that these products are no longer used in California.
In addition they are actually more toxic to a homeowners own cats and dogs than they are to the rat. Pet and livestock poisoning by these products is often discussed in Veterinary publications.
The rodentcides which can now be legally bought over the counter virtually anywhere in California likely contain Bromethalin:
Also from Wikipedia
Bromethalin is a rodenticide which poisons the central nervous system by uncoupling mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which causes a decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Decreased ATP ultimately results in increased intracranial pressure, which damages neuronal axons. This damage to the central nervous system can cause paralysis, convulsions, and death
And the animal will likely feel as though it is suffocating the whole time. How can people _do this_?
You will notice in the above documents that there is _no toxicity_ information for rat’s natural predators– reptiles.
So I googled rodenticides with ld50 for snakes or scientific name Reptilia (either before or after) excluding PDF files.
Your search – rodenticides “ld50 Reptilia” “ld50 snakes” “Reptilia ld50” “snakes ld50” -pdf – did not match any documents.
Nothing!?!?
Geez I wonder why there are virtually no toxicity studies on these important natural rodent predators.
And do you really think that that it is a good idea to allow the sale of these things with no idea how it works on a rodent’s natural predator.
Because if we kill off the natural predators we will have more rats….
There will thus be more of a market and more profit for the chemical companies….
… so it’s a good thing.
Do you think you could possibly consider not using these unsafe products….
Maybe?
Possibly?