As a symptom of urbanization, DC is home to large rat and mice populations. There are many ways that people choose to deal with these pest species, including rodenticide. Unfortunately, rodenticide is inhumane and extremely dangerous, especially for wildlife.
Rodenticide causes a slow and painful death. Once ingested, it can take up to ten days for the victim to die. Rodenticide works by affecting the blood’s ability to clot. This leads to internal bleeding. Over time, the rodent becomes weaker and weaker, making it more susceptible to predators. If a predator, such as a hawk or a fox, ingests prey that has consumed rodenticide, the predator becomes poisoned as well and eventually dies. Rodenticide bait is not only enticing to rodent pests; it can also attract songbirds, squirrels, and other wildlife that think they’re just eating a tasty treat. Every year, City Wildlife admits several patients that have been unintentionally sickened by rodenticide.
Please refrain from using rodenticide; you could save many innocent lives!
To learn about humane options to remove rats and mice, please visit the Humane Society of the United States website at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-rats and https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice.
As always, if you find a sick wild animal, please contact City Wildlife at 202-882-1000.
As a member of the Greenbelt Homes Inc. Companion Animal Committee I researched Rodenticides use in the State of MD/Dept. of Agriculture. The EPA allows the use of a nasty rodenticide called Bromethalin which is not in the class of anticoagulants but an “other” category. Bromethalin effects the central nervous system and there is NO ANTIDOTE for the treatment for this poisoning! The GHI Board of Directors has banned the use of rodenticides by members of our Cooperative. Members must notify maintenance if having problems with rodents. The Companion Animal Committeee is working on a campaign to educate our members. I have the research info if you would like it.
Why would anyone use that?? You can also kill someone’s friend, a dog, cat, turtle that got out. my goodness please Ban that awful stuff
I’m interested in banning the use of rodenticides in Mississippi and need all the information I can obtain regarding this issue.
I’m interested in keeping rats out of my urban chicken coop (these are my pets) and out of my home(The smell coming up from the basement is to gag a maggot). Can you suggest anything that would not take immense effort and time or cost me a fortune?
You may need help with this one. You will want to take measures to exclude the rats from your chicken enclosure and your basement, but rats are very good (very, very good!) at finding their way into places where there is food. We would suggest calling a reliable pest service — your local animal shelter or wildlife rehabilitation center can likely recommend one — and asking for exclusion work.
Good luck! Thanks for writing!