Rodenticides are pesticides used in urban, suburban, and rural areas to control rodents. It is important and useful to keep mice and rats out of households and surrounding areas to prevent transmission of disease and property damage. Rodenticides are also used to control moles, chipmunks, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, gophers, muskrat, and mongoose in areas such as orchards and rangelands and in conservation programs.

Exposures to Children

Rodenticides are an important tool for public health pest control, including controlling mice and rats around the home; however, the use of these products has been associated with accidental exposures to thousands of children each year. Fortunately, only a small number of exposed children experience medical symptoms or suffer adverse health effects as a result of their exposure.

Risks of Pesticides

Rodenticides pose a risk of accidental poisonings for several reasons. They are agents specifically designed to kill mammals; often their toxicity is very similar for the target rodents and for humans. Since rodents usually share environments with humans and other mammals, the risk of accidental exposure is an integral part of the placement of baits for the rodents. As rodents have developed resistance to existing rodenticides, there is a continuous need to develop new and potentially more toxic rodenticides.

There are currently three active ingredients belonging to the coumarone rodenticide family registered for use in Florida: brodifacoum, bromadiolone and warfarin. Brodifacoum was registered for controlling rats and mice in and around structures, households, industrial sites and transportation vehicles including trucks, ships, and airplanes. Brodifacoum products are available to the general public and applications may be made as often as necessary. Its mechanism of action is an anticoagulant and it is absorbed through the gut, inhibiting vitamin K-dependent steps in the synthesis of multiple clotting factors.

Insecticides, rodenticides, and other pesticides are designed to kill certain types of animals. Many of the ingredients in these products can also kill or make a dog or puppy seriously ill. Always read and carefully follow directions before applying any product to your dog. If using insecticides, pesticides, or rodenticides in the environment, restrict the dog’s access to areas where they have been applied or used. Store these products out of the reach of Children and animals.