Rats and mice are a menace. They gnaw and damage almost everything. So, they deserve elimination, but what is the best rat poison?
In a market with several brands of rat killer poison, selecting the best rat poison can be a daunting task, especially when buying the best rat killer poison for outdoor use. For this reason, you need a comprehensive understanding of what makes up good rat poison. What do you need to know?
What is Rat Poison?
Rat poison is a chemical for killing rats. Sometimes, this poison can kill other rodents, including mice, porcupines, chipmunks, and squirrels. Some rat poisons kill rats after a single feeding, while others kill rats after multiple feedings.
Rodents do not take unknown food easily. They like taking a bite of the food and waiting for adverse effects. This rationale explains the need for multiple doses of poison for rats.
Rat poison is toxic to mammals, including humans. Also, it can cause secondary poisoning to scavengers that eat dead rodents. The common types of rat poison are as follows:
Anticoagulants
These chemicals block the vitamin K cycle in rats. Anticoagulants hamper the production of blood-clotting elements in rats. They damage tiny blood veins and cause internal bleeding. A rat that ingests anticoagulants die of severe anemia or hemorrhagic shock.
Metal Phosphides
These chemicals are fast-acting rat poison that kills rats within three days after ingestion. Their administration entails mixing phosphide with food to make bait and placing it in a rat concentration area. The rat’s digestive system reacts with phosphide to produce toxic phosphine gas.
Metal phosphides are ideal for rodents, especially indoor and outdoor mice resistant to anticoagulants.
One of the popular metal phosphides is zinc phosphide. It has a strong, garlic-like, pungent odor that is rodent-friendly. However, the odor is repulsive to other mammals and birds, except wild turkeys. The turkeys are not sensitive to the bad smell.
Metal phosphides do not kill scavengers because the poison does not accumulate on the tissues of a dead rodent. So, the secondary-poisoning risk is low.
Hypercalcemia
Hypercalvemia is a vitamin D overdose. This poison consists of vitamin D2 and D3, which are toxic to rodents. If you give a high dosage of these two vitamins to rodents, the rodents die. This poison raises calcium levels in rodents and causes heart problems and possible kidney failure that kill the rodents. The death of the affected rodents occurs within a week.
Others
Other rat poison best ingredients include arsenic trioxide, barium carbonate, chloralose, crimidine, endrin, fluoroacetamide, phosacetim, and phosphorus allotropes.
Sometimes, rat poison contains a combination of two or more rat poisons, such as a mixture of anticoagulants, antibiotics, and vitamin D.
Does Antifreeze Kill Rats?
How much do you know about antifreeze? It is a product that lowers the freezing points of some liquids. People use it in motor radiators to prevent the freezing of radiator coolants during the cold seasons.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol. It is a sweet ingredient that can attract rats. When rats ingest antifreeze, they die. You can mix it with antifreeze with human food for faster outcomes.
Ethylene glycol clogs the kidneys of a rat. It is not a fast-acting poison. So, you have to wait for some time before it takes effect in rats. Mixing it with food is a strategy for ensuring that rats ingest this poison.
If you have pets in the house, never use antifreeze to kill rats. The effect of the poison on rats is similar to the effect the poison has on pets. So, your pets can die after ingesting antifreeze.
Do you know that antifreeze is not a specific rat poison? It does not have a formula that can eradicate rats effectively. So, it is a home remedy that people use to kill rats. Also, its effects are inferior to the impact of specially-formulated rat poison. So, antifreeze is not a matching alternative to rat poison. Also, the use of antifreeze on rats results in minimal effects.
What You Should Know About Rat Poisons
Rat poison keeps humans and other animals safe from rat infections. Some of the diseases that rats cause include typhus. Rats carry fleas that play host to the condition. If those fleas bite humans, they transmit the disease to humans. However, typhus disease is curable. Rats can also cause the deadly bubonic plague. This disease is more lethal than typhus.
A visible rat depicts that there are 100 invisible rats in that environment. Visible rats are an indicator that the area requires immediate fumigation.
Rat poison is an effective method of eliminating rats. The poison keeps you safe from rat-related infections and damage. All you need to know is how rat poison works and the best brand of poison on the market.
Our Tips for Safe Rat Poison Handling
Safety is paramount when handling rat poison. Remember, there is toxic and nontoxic rat poison. However, employ caution when handling the poison regardless of its toxicity. So, observe the following when administering rat poison:
Wear a Protective Gear
You should wear hand gloves when handling rat poison. If you can get your hands on a face mask and protective glasses, you will have total protection against the poison.
Even though you cannot be in contact with high levels of poison that can make you critically ill, always wear protective gear when handling the poison. Also, always wash your hands after handling the poison.
Storage
Keep rat poison out of children’s and pets’ reach always. Remember, several types of rat poison contain ingredients that attract animals. So, use an airtight container to hold the poison and keep the poison out of the pet’s reach. A lockable garage or a detached shed is a safe store for rat poison.
Keep Animal and Human Food Away
After setting up a rat poison bait, remove all animal and human foodstuff from the environment. The availability of other food can disrupt the concentration of rats on the poisoned baits. Also, contaminated rats can poison the available animal and human foodstuff.
Our Top Pick
Motomco Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx: Best for Killing Outdoor Rural and Agricultural Rats and Mice (Our Rating: 4.6/5 Stars)
We select this rat poison as our top pick because its active ingredient, diphacinone, is more lethal than what most rat poison contains. This product also contains food-grade ingredients that make it highly palatable. Lastly, it is an all-weather rat poison for outdoor uses only.
At a Glance: The Best Rat Poisons in Our Opinion
- Motomco Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx (Best for killing outdoor rural and agricultural rats and mice) Our rating: 4.6/5 stars
- Neogen Ramik Fish Flavored Weather Resistant Rodenticide (Best for killing indoor and outdoor mice and rats) Our rating: 4.3/5 stars
- Victor M923 Fast-Kill Brand Ready-to-Use Refillable Mouse Station (Best for attracting and killing indoor and outdoor mice) Our rating: 4.2/5 stars
- Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx (Best for killing outdoor agricultural and rural rats and mice) Our rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Tomcat With Bromethalin Bait Chunx Pail (Best for killing indoor and outdoor home and agricultural buildings mice, rats, and meadow voles) (Amazon’s choice award for Tomcat Bait Chunx) Our rating: 4.4/5 stars
The Best Rat Poison to Use Outdoors – Buying Guide
What is the best rat poison to kill rats? Consider the following factors when buying a strong rat poison for outdoor uses:
Types of Poison
Acute toxins, calcium releasers, and anticoagulants are some types of rat poisons you can get on the market.
Acute toxins gradually release poison into the bloodstream of rats until the poison gets to lethal levels that kill a rat. Calcium releasers release calcium in the bloodstream of rats to shut down their internal organs. Lastly, anticoagulants inhibit blood clotting in rats and make rats die of internal bleeding.
Acute toxins and calcium releasers are not as lethal to people that dispose of the dead rats as coagulants.
Toxic vs. Nontoxic
Overall, all types of rat poison are toxic to rats. However, rat poison can be toxic or non-toxic to humans and other animals. Only a handful of rat poisons are nontoxic. However, handle even the nontoxic rat poison safely despite its neutrality. Reading the label on a rat poison product tells you whether it is toxic or nontoxic.
Even though non-toxic rat poison is less harmful to humans and other animals, exposure to high levels of this poison can result in several side effects, such as low blood pressure and flushing. So, handle the nontoxic rat poison the way you handle the toxic rat poison.
Slow-Acting vs. Fast-Acting
Besides the time it takes for a rat to die of poison, there are other differences between slow-acting and fast-acting rat poison. Fast-acting rat poison kills several rats within a short time (a day or two days). So, it is ideal for heavily-infested environments.
To reiterate, rats usually watch how other rats act after eating unknown food. So, sometimes fast-acting poison can fail to eradicate a rat infestation. In such a situation, the slow-acting rat poison comes in handy. Slow-acting poison kills rats gradually. So, it confuses rats and makes several of them ingest poisoned bait.
Some countries have banned the use of fast-acting rat poison. This poison accumulates in the tissues of a rat that ingests it. So, it carries a high risk of secondary poisoning. If several rats and mice die in the wild, they can affect the wild scavengers that eat them. That is why some governments ban the use of fast-acting rodenticides.
Required Dosage
The required dosage depends on whether rat poison is fast-acting or slow acting. The dosage does not depend on the amount of poison that a rat will ingest and die.
Regarding the fast-acting poison, you should use a low dosage. Some rats with a high appetite can consume large doses of the fast-acting poison within a short time. On the other hand, you should apply a high dosage of the slow-acting rat poison in a repeated-feeding schedule. It takes a long time or a few days for the slow-acting poison to build up in a rat’s body.
Sometimes it is hard for you to know the correct dosage to employ. However, you should check the product label for directions.
Ease of Use
Highly-attractive poison to rats is easy to administer. Rodents take time to ingest poison. So, you have to leave the poison out there for a few days. Always look for easy-to-handle and easy-to-replace products when buying rat poison.
You can get rat poison with stations that you refill when the bait levels decrease, age, or lose effectiveness. The design of the stations depends on whether you are using liquid or solid rat poison baits.
Our Top Picks for the Best Rat Poisons
Motomco Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx: Best for Killing Outdoor Rural and Agricultural Rats and Mice (Our Rating: 4.6/5 Stars)
This poison kills outdoor rats and mice gradually after repeated feeding. It kills these rodents within four to six days. This product has food-grade ingredients that lure rats and mice into eating diphacinone, an active ingredient in this product, and die.
- Form: Bait chunks
- Product dimensions and weight/volume: 19 x 16 x 10 inches (48.26 x 40.64 x 25.4 centimeters); 9 pounds (4.05 kilograms)
- How does the product work?: It contains diphacinone, a rat-killing poison
- Working time (how long does it take to take effect): Four to six days
- Pet friendly?: No
- Safety for humans: Keep out of children’s reach, handle with gloves, wash hands after handling, dispose of dead rodents carefully
- Flavor/s: Peanut
- Versatility: Versatile
- Pros: Moisture-and mold-resistant, extra-palatable, features center holes to prevent rats from carrying the chunks.
- Cons: Unfit for indoor uses
- Features & specs: Brand: Motomco; rat age range: all ages; color: pale green; target species: rats and mice; package: plastic pail
- Weather conditions: All-weather
- Single or multi-feeding: Multi-feeding
Neogen Ramik Fish Flavored Weather Resistant Rodenticide: Best for Killing Indoor and Outdoor Mice and Rats (Our Rating: 4.3/5 Stars)
Neogen Ramik rat poison kills outdoor and indoor rats. It kills mice, rats, and meadow voles. Also, it is an all-weather, mold- and moisture-resistant poison.
Also, you can use it in poultry and livestock production facilities, vehicles, aircraft, and trains. Each bar bait contains diphacinone, an active ingredient that kills rodents. Also, it has food ingredients that attract rodents to the bait.
- Form: Bar baits
- Product dimensions and weight/volume: 1.25 x 2 x 4.13 inches (3.2 x 5.08 x 10.49 centimeters); 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)
- How does the product work?: It has food ingredients to attract rodents and diphacinone to kill them
- Working time (how long does it take to take effect): Four to six days
- Pet friendly?: Yes
- Safety for humans: Keep out of children’s reach, handle with gloves, wash hands after handling, dispose of dead rodents carefully
- Flavor/s: Fish
- Versatility: Versatile
- Pros: Moisture- and mold-resistant, extra-palatable, fit for indoor and outdoor uses
- Cons: You cannot buy it in quantities below 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)
- Features & specs: Brand: Neogen; rat age range: all ages; color: pale green; target species: rats, meadow voles, and mice; package: plastic pail
- Weather conditions: All-weather
- Single or multi-feeding: Multi-feeding
Victor M923 Fast-Kill Brand Ready-to-Use Refillable Mouse Station: Best for Attracting and Killing Indoor and Outdoor Mice (Our rating: 4.2/5 stars)
This rat poison box has a dual entry design that allows a high rodent activity. The station comes pre-loaded with a highly-palatable bait formula. The bait is highly poisonous, and rodents stop feeding immediately after their first attempt. So, you can control a large infestation with less bait.
It also has a sturdy casing that prevents children from touching the poisonous bait. Also, its inbuilt beveled columns prevent children from inserting their fingers in the station.
For high infestation, place several stations in the affected area. The stations should be 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 meters) apart.
- Form: Bait station
- Product dimensions and weight/volume: 6.31 x 2.34 x 1.48 inches (16.03 x 5.9 x 3.7 centimeters; 1.19 pounds (0.54 kilograms)
- How does the product work?: It contains bromethalin as an active ingredient that kills rodents
- Working time: Four days
- Pet friendly?: Yes
- Safety for humans: Keep out of children’s reach, handle with gloves, wash hands after handling, dispose of dead rodents carefully
- Flavor/s: Oatmeal
- Versatility: No
- Pros: Refillable, child-and pet-friendly, two-way station, it is a pre-loaded station, easy to handle
- Cons: It can only accommodate a few rodents at a time
- Features & specs: One pre-filled, refillable bait station; 19 bait refills and one pair of gloves; brand: Victor; material: plastic; target species: mice; bait units: 20
- Weather conditions: All-weather
- Single or multi-feeding: Single-feeding
Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx: Best for Killing Outdoor Agricultural and Rural Rats and Mice (Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars)
Kill rats and mice in four days using the Tomcat All-Weather rat poison. This product is ideal for rural and agricultural outdoor uses only. Each tablet contains bromadiolone, an active ingredient that kills rodents. Also, the product contains food-grade enhancers and ingredients that attract rodents to their death.
- Form: Tablets
- Product dimensions and weight/volume: 8.75 x 8.25 x 6 inches (22.23 x 21 x 15.24 centimeters); 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)
- How does the product work?: Each tablet contains bromadiolone, an active ingredient that kills rodents.
- Working time: Four to six days
- Pet friendly?: No
- Safety for humans: Keep out of children’s reach, handle with gloves, wash hands after handling, dispose of dead rodents carefully
- Flavor/s: Peanut
- Versatility: Versatile
- Pros: Moisture-and mold-resistant, extra-palatable, ideal for bait stations, is ideal for indoor and outdoor uses
- Cons: unfit for home uses
- Features & specs: Brand: Motomco; rat age range: all ages; color: pale green; target species: rats and mice; package: plastic pail
- Weather conditions: All-weather
- Single or multi-feeding: Multi-feeding
Tomcat With Bromethalin Bait Chunx Pail: Best for Killing Indoor and Outdoor Home and Agricultural Buildings Mice, Rats, and Meadow Voles (Amazon’s Choice Award for Tomcat Bait Chunx) (Our Rating: 4.4/5 Stars)
Use Tomcat bait chunks in your home and agricultural buildings. It is ideal for indoor and outdoor uses. Rats, Norway rats, and mice stop feeding after their first attempt.
One ounce (28.35 grams) block kills up to 12 mice, while one four ounces (113.4 grams) block kills up to ten rats. This product contains bromethalin as the active ingredient. So, you will use less bait to kill several rodents.
- Form: Bait chunks
- Product dimensions and weight/volume: 7.75 x 8.25 x 7.75 inches (19.69 x 21 x 19.7 centimeters); 4.25 pounds (1.9 kilograms)
- How does the product work?: It contains bromethalin as the active ingredient that kills rodents
- Working time: Two or more days
- Pet friendly?: Yes
- Safety for humans: Keep out of children’s reach, handle with gloves, wash hands after handling, dispose of dead rodents carefully
- Flavor/s: Natural
- Versatility: Versatile
- Pros: Moisture- and mold-resistant, extra-palatable, ideal for indoor and outdoor uses, kills within two or more days, is suitable for high infestations, pet-friendly
- Cons: No known cons
- Features & specs: Brand: Tomcat; rat age range: all ages; color: pale green; target species: rats and mice; package: plastic pail
- Weather conditions: All-weather
- Single or multi-feeding: Single-feeding
Alternatives to Rat Poison for Outdoor Use
All rat poisons have safer alternatives. It is worth noting that rat poison is harmful to the ecosystem and humans, especially children. The following options have less detrimental effects on people and the ecosystem but are lethal to rats and other rodents:
Trained Owls
Owls are natural predators. They are prey birds that you can use to eradicate rats and other outdoor rodents. All you need to do is have an owl house in your garden. However, the house should only be large enough to fit an owl because other large birds can occupy it. Also, the house should stand on an 8 to 10 foot (2.4 to 3 meters) pole to keep squirrels off.
Traps
Baiting traps, especially snap traps, are decades-old means of killing outdoor rats. It kills rats quickly. However, keep it under a crate or a box to prevent other animals from getting hurt. Also, use peanut butter as the bait. It is cheap and highly efficient in attracting rats.
Smoke Bombs
Smoke bombs work better where rat burrows are visible. However, you cannot use smoke bombs in burrows near a tree, flammable structures, or a porch.
Dry Ice
Use dry ice in burrows near a porch or urban areas. Dry ice produces carbon dioxide that kills rats. However, never use dry ice in enclosed spaces with humans and pets. Also, handle dry ice with hand gloves.
FAQs on Rat Poison
Q: How does rat poison work?
A: Some types of rat poison overload rats’ bloodstream with calcium to shut their internal organs. Other types of rat poison build-up in the body of rats gradually up to lethal levels. Lastly, there are types of rat poison that cause internal bleeding in rats.
Q: How long does it take for a rat to die after eating poison?
A: Fast-acting rat poison kills a rat within two days, while slow-acting poison kills a rat within a week. However, fast-acting poison has secondary poisoning. So, the slow-acting poison is the best rat killer.
Q: What should I do if my pet consumes rat poison?
A: If your pet ingests rat poison, contact your veterinarian immediately. A quick response minimizes the damage that the poison can do to a pet. If you are to take the pet to a vet, carry the poison container or identify the active ingredient of the rat poison.
What is the Best Rat Poison? Our Final Conclusion
What is the best rat poison to use in killing outdoor rats? We now believe that you can make an informed choice. Rat poison, such as the Motomco Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx, keeps humans from deadly infections that rat fleas transmit. Also, the poison keeps your households and foodstuff safe.
It is hard to control outdoor rats manually. So, step out and buy the best rat poison for outdoor use.