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Palatability and efficacy to possums and rats of pest control baits containing bird repellents

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-03, 12:26 authored by Kay Clapperton, Tim Day, Dai Morgan, Frances Huddart, Neil CoxNeil Cox, Lindsay Matthews
Repellents used to reduce by-kill of birds during pest control must not compromise acceptance by target species. Two repellents combined, anthraquinone (AQ; 0.4 g kg−1) and d-pulegone (DP; 1.0) did not reduce the palatability of blue-coloured carrot baits to laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus); nor did DP (2.0). Green-coloured carrot baits coated with AQ, DP or AQ + DP were taken from bait stations by wild possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rats. Toxic (1080) bait coated with AQ (0.4) and peanut oil (0.1) had reduced palatability but was accepted by laboratory rats. However, laboratory rats did not consume enough baits coated with AQ and bacon, peanut butter, cinnamon or DP to be killed. Anthraquinone (0.4 or 0.8) plus cinnamon and DP (0.5) did not affect palatability or lethality to captive ship rats (R. rattus) or possums. Anthraquinone and DP as surface coatings on baits are therefore acceptable to possums and possibly rats, at concentrations that deter some bird species.

History

Rights statement

© 2015 AgResearch Ltd

Language

  • English

Does this contain Māori information or data?

  • No

Publisher

Taylor & Francis Group

Journal title

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

ISSN

0301-4223

Citation

Clapperton, B. K., Day, T. D., Morgan, D. K. J., Huddart, F., Cox, N., & Matthews, L. R. (2015). Palatability and efficacy to possums and rats of pest control baits containing bird repellents. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 42(2), 104-118.

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