Perspectives on Existing and Potential New Alternatives to Anticoagulant Rodenticides and the Implications for Integrated Pest Management

Abstract

Rodents cause substantial amounts of damage and losses of foodstuffs around the world. They also spread many diseases to humans and livestock. While various methods are used to reduce damage and losses to rodents, rodenticides remain the most important tools for the control of small mammal pest species. However, like all tools, rodenticides have advantages and disadvantages. Several considerations are shaping the future of rodenticide use, including manufacturing and registration costs, concern about toxicity levels and non-target animal hazards, potential hazards to children, reduced effectiveness of some formulations, and humaneness to the targeted rodents. Many of these disadvantages apply to anticoagulant rodenticides and their use is being more restricted in numerous settings. This chapter discusses alternative control methods to anticoagulant rodenticides. These include acute rodenticides, fumigants, traps, exclusion, habitat management, repellents, fertility control, and encouraging natural predation. While there have been relatively few new developments in rodenticides and other rodent control methods in the last several decades, new formulations and active ingredients are being investigated so that these concerns can be addressed.