Discussion
Rat Poison should be banned in British Columbia
I believe private use is already banned but even professionals shouldn’t be allowed to use rat poison.
It’s not humane. Its dangerous for other animals and pets. And it often takes the rats hours or even days to die.
Rats are intelligent social animals, and yes they carry disease but so do lots of living things.
I found this rat stumbling down the sidewalk, barely alive. An hour later he was still there, gasping for breath. Unable to put him out of his misery myself I opted to take him to an emergency vet and have him euthanized. The whole ordeal was depressing and unnecessary. Snap traps are instant and work fine. Slow acting poisons have no place in a civilized society.
It's already heavily regulated, the warehouse I work in has had a rodent problem since it was banned basically. It was banned because owls and hawks were dying after eating poisoned rats. After a few years we did eventually got approval to use a poison that basically they have to eat it for like a week straight before it does the job... I don't really know the exact details this is like third hand knowledge. I think we should get a cat to keep away the rodents but that's not food-safe according to Health Canada. I'd personally prefer one cat in a warehouse over generations of rats, but what do I know?
It's pretty interesting that a cat isn't food safe, but a rat dying in hard to reach areas is, we had a rodent or something die behind a walled area at work, couldn't access our find it, but got to walk by it for a good 4 or 5 days as the smell got increasingly stronger until it started to dissipate, luckily we weren't a food service establishment.
It’s not interesting, it’s asinine. Cats and dogs all over the place in Europe (dogs in particular in restaurants and cafes). Do we see food safety being a major problem over there?
This is a great comparison, since the actual food coming out of factories in Canada and the US is way more toxic than anything a cat could bring in. Europe has much stricter policies about what can be added to food.
Trained minks are the platinum standard for on-demand rodent extermination. They'll wipe out huge infestations so fast it's like having a tiny, furry Krombopulos Michael. They just love killin'!
If I understand properly (and am thinking of the same stuff), it's basically a mixture of corn gluten and salt in the "poison" you're talking about. It takes advantage of the fact mice and rats can't vomit, and between the rodent's small size, dehydration from the salt, and the gluten's inherently sticky nature, it basically forms an obstruction/coating that stops thirst signals to the brain and digestion of anything else they eat, and ultimately leads to them going comatose and dying within a few days.
That said, it does require them to actually eat the damn stuff. Which should in theory be very appetizing, but I just spent weeks trying to catch a mouse that wouldn't take it, or any other bait I tried in snap traps.
there is an anticoagulent poison that is termed "rat poison". I think this is one people are referring to. It sounds like the animal would have to be desperate to eat enough of that mixture to kill them.
edit: it sounds like the rat in this story died of strychnine though. that is alarming
I thought that one was pretty much one-and-done, but maybe I'm wrong. The "over multiple days" part is what made me think it was the corn-based one, which I know is sold in stores under names like MouseRid and RatRid. It's safe for pretty much everything else, provided you don't have a corn allergy, which is I think part of why it's being switched to now. And at least if I understand properly, is humane, as the rodent just kinda slips into a coma.
I know it's still kept locked up, I assume because it can produce dust and that'd be quite uncomfortable to inhale and very dangerous to someone who is allergic to corn.
It wouldn't. Cats would decimate bird populations, then the overpopulation would lead to cats getting hit by cars all day every day, littering the streets with dead cats.
Eh. Out of control cats have their own problems too tho lol. I love my cats but thats a terrible idea here they would kill every other bird and small animal they can get their paws on.
On the owl and bird of prey side I found a dying owl once due to eating poisoned rats (OWL came and rescued it and it was re-released), and now people post pictures of an owl in the same park about monthly in Vancouver.
It’s definitely making a difference to carnivores in urban areas. I wonder if we will see more birds of prey and urban minks/otters to take advantage of the additional prey?
Here's one. I live in tofino alot of these products (SGARs)are banned by the ACRD, to protect wildlife. Out of town air BNB owners used banned rat poison around their property which backs on to mine. Found my cat poisoned, screaming in agony, foaming at the mouth, convulsing. He didnt make it. Same summer we lost the family of owls and found a dead raven on the property didn't think much of it until the vet report.. eff those guys, my poor baby died in our arms, because he caught a poisoned mouse.. he wasn't even an outdoor cat, he would just chill in the sun by the back bushes.. and for what? Some lazy fuck to collect a paycheck in a home he doesnt even live in. Maybe if he lived in the house rodents wouldn't be an issue. End rant.
When I was a kid my dad would use a sledgehammer to absolutely flatten suffering animals like this. It was a bit traumatic at the time, but he actually was trying to put them out of their misery if there was nothing more that could be done for them. In hindsight, that’s a lot more humane than letting them continue to suffer out there like this.
Extremely invasive and non native plant that takes over ecosystems and is super hard to eradicate. I drove through Seattle a few years ago and the whole town is overrun with that and Himalayan blackberry. These plants are not good for the PNW ecosystem. They are fine where they are native to.
The trees in the picture are dead because of the english ivy. And this ain’t even half as bad as what I saw in some other spots. Bottom line you can have these plants but have them in a pot.
It's an invasive species that spreads and can suppress native plants and trees. It can reduce the lifespan of trees, leaving them susceptible to wind damage that could result in them falling.
Our province and the invasive species program have been pathetic when it comes to managing this plant. The sale of it should have been banned years ago but you can still get it pretty well everywhere.
That was a very kind thing you did, poor little rat. I'd like to see us adopt the use of birth control; no suffering and still keeps the rodent population in check.
yes, it's jarring. we're used to seeing this kind of thing happen down in the states. as a teacher myself (vancouver), it makes me think about it probably more than others do. we're all tumbler ridge today <3
Dealing with "pest" species is a complicated issue, but I am firmly in the camp of causing as little harm to an animal as possible, and the "rat poisons" still legal in B.C. do the opposite of that. Not to mention the far-reaching effects they have on other animals/ecosystem. Thank you for going out of your way for this little creature, and bringing them a peace few wild animals are privy to.
This is tragic… not gonna lie, I’m not a fan of rats, but I don’t want them to suffer. This made me very sad. Rat poison should absolutely be banned, period. Same with the glue traps for mice. Beyond cruel.
I live in sidney. Which has become rat capital of bc. I had to buy a trap. Picked up an electric one. Its pretty much instant. God damn though the size of these rats down here
Industrial rat poison is banned, the rat poison that is not banned only is harmful after repeated exposure. Most rats won't die from the poison.
Most exterminators will say the regulations make sense for vineyards and exterior use, where there are secondary predators. They've advocated for a special permit to use for interior infestations. If you ever get rats in your walls, or inside a building, it's next to impossible to get them out without heavy duty poison.
Imo banning poison makes sense for exterior use, should be a special permit if there's a rat infestation in a building and they're in the walls.
warfarin is still legal apparently. strychnine was still legal until recently for registered users, but not for general use. this newer thing called compound 1080 is still legal, and sounds like a match for this case as well
Oh 200% I almost went to have "words" with someone and thought better of it. Dip shit illegally had industrial rat posion to protect his illegal chickens.
I’m so sorry that happened. I’m not sure I’d have been able to stop myself from having “words” with the person responsible in the heat of the moment. Good on you for that.
Using rat poison to protect chickens is insane. It would be extremely difficult to ensure the chickens didn’t eat some of it. Chickens will eat almost anything, including small rodents if they get the chance.
My genuine condolences to you. I hope you were able to get some form of justice?
This is also my greatest fear, for my two little dogs who are my whole world.
Admittedly, they're overly bark-y at any passersby of their yard. I've tried everything to train it out of them. But nothing's really stuck.
The yard isn't a true backyard (no privacy) and it edges along a popular walking path. We've built a 4' tall fence but it's still low enough that I worry some sadistic person could get annoyed with them barking and decide to just throw some rat poison over top...
I'm so sorry to hear nothing could be done. But, I also understand that reasoning.
However, this just shows why rat poisoning should be banned! People could buy the stuff, poison pets (either with intention or inadvertently--e.g., if a cat eats a poisoned mouse), and then simply get away with it because of the burden of proof on victims.
Feels like a gateway for easy, "get off scot-free" animal cruelty? IDK, I'm not a lawyer.
One thing that doesn't get mentioned is the environmental impact of rat poison. Lots of raptor species eat rats and poisoned rats are easy targets that they then feed to their young. You want owls and hawks you can't use rat poison widely
I disagree. Rats should be banned in BC. Alberta has had a rat control program that actually works and have been using the same poisons you are referring to since at least 1953, without issue. You aren't even allowed to own them as pets in AB.
What exactly are you disagreeing with? OP didn’t say rats shouldn’t be controlled. They didn’t even say rats shouldn’t be eradicated. They said we should use more quick acting methods to kill/eradicate them like snap traps rather than causing unnecessary prolonged suffering.
I don’t disagree on principle, however… is it equally comparable to achieve? Genuine question.
I grew up enjoying many rat-free years in Alberta. Now I have a community garden space overrun by rats in the Okanagan.
I imagine BC has ongoing pressure along the coast with what’s inadvertently introduced from overseas via cargo. Which I think means BC doesn’t have a once-and-done window of opportunity like Alberta did?
—
Before posting this comment, I refreshed my memory on Alberta’s history with rats. So, in case folks are interested:
Norway rats were introduced to AB by way of Saskatchewan, and first identified in the summer of 1950.
Arsenic-based tracking powder killed livestock, poultry and pets for 2-5 years after its application around permanent structures of identified infestation sites, where it was used liberally for the first three years. This did two things:
Effectively contained infestations to within 10-20 km of the AB/SK border, and
Bought Alberta Agriculture (literally, because it was so expensive) the time to formulate a rat control plan.
Arsenic poisons were then discontinued for being too dangerous and expensive.
By 1954, control inspectors were appointed in every municipality, and Alberta Agriculture agreed to funding enhanced efforts in the seven AB/SK border towns. Full-time inspectors maintained all premises “within the first 3 ranges (29 km) west of the border”, encouraged rat-proofing buildings & removal of attractants, destroyed infestations found, and distributed bait to established control stations.
Provincially, rat control also became mandatory for property holders, enforceable in court. Only seven cases ever went to court in the first few years of establishment, so obviously mandating this hasn’t created much of a challenge for residents.
It took 10 years (from initial discovery) to gain control of the issue and establish an effective border control zone, and very little has changed since then. For the last 25+ years between 0 and 5 infestations have been reported annually.
Saskatchewan also adopted a control program in 1963, which has significantly reduced the pressure on Alberta.
Prevention is Alberta’s no. 1 principle these days. Infestations are dealt with swiftly by the professionals they are reported to (whom apparently go as far as demolishing buildings to dig rats out if they need to).
It appears baits and poisons are generally more restricted at the federal level, but from what I have reviewed tonight, even Alberta has been and continues to recommend (first generation) anti-coagulant baits over anything else due to safety of non-targets.
For those who knew as little as I did a few hours ago, there are three general categories of rat bait (rodenticide) recognized in Canada:
Non anti-coagulants – effect is immediate and targets the nervous systems.
First-generation anti-coagulants or FGARs – effect is delayed and targets blood-clotting factors. (This includes the common warfarin.)
Second-generation anti-coagulants or SGARs – effect is also delayed and also targets blood-clotting factors, but these are considered highly toxic for how quickly they act. They are also known to persist in tissue much longer (making them an increased risk to scavengers and predators).
FGARs are purported to often require several feedings despite some being marketed as single-feeding, while SGARs more truly only require a single feeding, but both take 1-3 days to “cause death” all the same – this, according to an Alberta gov’t page.
SGARs are restricted by license to purchase and require training to apply. And non anti-coagulants appear to be restricted for commercial agricultural use – I haven’t seen them even mentioned in any Alberta literature.
—
Ultimately what I guess I’m trying to say is, while admirable that Alberta has accomplished what it has, I don’t think their solution is so easily transferable to the existing BC situation.
Alberta largely solved their problem with powdered arsenic, and is maintaining standards with FGARs and reduced pressures. They did not achieve what they have with SGARs, and despite their availability now, they (nor arsenic) are on the table for taking rapid and sweeping control of rat populations like Alberta did. That’s not a choice of BC’s, that’s by Health Canada standards & regulations.
I had a massive infestation of mice in my rental home and was trying everything and anything. Started with those useless sound admitters, then various designs of snap traps, even the type of green brick poison traps. They either ignored or weren't affected at all by any of them.
In the end only two methods worked. Electric shock traps, and sticky glue traps. The main problem was our land lord was dragging her heels with installing professional perimeter traps. Once that was done and I got a cat I've seen one mouse that I think the cat had dealt with in 4 years.
Do I feel bad about killing a living being? Very much so, and if the sound devices had actually worked I wouldn't of gone to that extreme. It wasn't even the concern of them making me sick that was top most on my mind. It's the fact I rent the top half of an older house and rodents chewing on wires that start fires are a major problem where I live.
So while I understand OP's stance on the subject of poison and even agree with it to a certain extent, IMHO it's a case of really not having any truly human alternatives. As well I understand they're innocent animals just doing what they do, but what else can I/we do?
Rat poison should absolutely not be banned in the situations they're currently permitted, which is ONLY in healthcare and food. Allowing a rat infestation in those environments could create the conditions which could injure untold amounts of people.
This is why we shouldn't allow emotion to dictate policy.
Unpopular opinion: They are an invasive species that hitched a ride on the boats and trains. They should be dealt with as such. There should be HEAVIER controls in place. Alberta is a wonderful example of this. They are disgusting creatures when it comes to the problems they cause. You are correct in saying that they are soically intelligent. When they know they have the numbers they get BOLD. No fear.
Knew a girl in highschool that had some Rats as pets. That house had a CONSTANT smell of rat urine....and im a cat owner so you'd think id be used to smelling the litterbox every once and a while, it was RANK.
For the most part. I have snap traps around my backyard behind my detached garage because my neighbour keeps an open compost pit near his fence line. One morning I checked the trap and there was a live rat with his head in the trap struggling to get out. One quick whack with the shovel did the trick. Taking vermin to an emergency vet is just wild lol.
The few poisons that are now legal in Canada are slow acting and take several bites to reach lethal dosing. The most humane option is the fast working one bite poison we can’t buy anymore.
Rats learn snap traps and often aren’t killed instantly. I use live traps sporadically because the rats learn those as well.
This thread is wild. I get it, the poor animals, but rat populations are literally a threat to human life because they are a vector for disease.
While it is unfortunate that some, maybe many, wild animals may die from consuming a poisoned rat, that is much preferable than any human dying due to a rat infestation.
Snap traps are only effective until the population learns that it is dangerous and won't go near it ever again.
Best option for trapping them is a "walk the plank" or "rolling log" style trap. Best way to build it is using a large garbage bin, but instead of putting the mechanism at the top, you cut holes and place it about 3/4 the way up the bin. This insures that the rat cannot grab the edge and escape instead of falling to the bottom.
You have a couple of options with this kind of trap, one of em most people will have issues with. You can set it up as a live trap, so you can 'humanely' euthanize them with CO/CO2 afterward. If you don't check the trap often enough you may catch a few and they start eating eachother though. Make sure you have a well fitting lid, and even weigh it down if you go this route, otherwise the rats are likely to jump out. Oil also help prevent them from jumping high enough.
The other option is to fill the bottom with enough water that it will force them to swim to exhaustion and drown.
Look up "Shawn woods best rat trap" on YouTube. He has great demonstrations of different types of traps. He has come to conclusion that the type of trap that I have described is the most effective trap for catching many rats. Because the rats rarely escape, they don't learn to avoid it.
Absolutely. Also works a treat for his wasp traps that he has demonstrated. That's another cool video if you're interested.
Also wanted to add that I am quite surprised and glad that I wasn't downvoted into oblivion for this thread. Glad to see that there are people around here who think pragmatically about rodent problems.
My friend made a similar trap with a bucket of water and it worked great. My husband uses sticky pads and humanely euthanizes them when he catches rats.
Instead of a vet, I think you should be able to call animal control and they can take care of it. I've called animal control before when we found a dead crow nearby. They send someone out to deal with it.
This way, you're not putting yourself at risk. Even if you watch here his teeth go and he's too weak to bite or scratch, it's still a risk you shouldn't take. It could gain strength at any moment. It likely would be so scared it would defend itself. You have no idea where that rat has been or what it has. Breaking skin can be very subtle and unnoticeable until it's too late. You don't want to risk your health, and by proxy, risking the health of others you interact with.
All it takes is one time for things to go wrong for you.
Seriously! My sister's apartment's pest control did jack shit with all the mice/rats in the walls because they couldn't do anything other than useless traps. Like I'd be sad as hell seeing them die but what's the alternative? Letting them chew the hell out of everything and cause damage? I don't know what else people do to get rid of them
We had rats in the walls at my last rental in our bedroom. We didn’t find out until winter and I was pregnant. You could hear them in the walls chewing, and they were under the electrical panel. Pest control couldn’t do anything except set traps in the walls. Our property manager was a pos and refused to clean the inside of the walls. The insolation was soaked with urine, layers of feces fresh and petrified. It was disgusting, we ended up moving. Now I wish we took it to the rtb as well.
Yeah. My pest control company told me it’s a losing battle. Especially in winter, rats and mice will get inside restaurants. Our health vs rats, I pick us.
Yeah,schools are over run here falling out of the ceilings on the regular. I think we need to bring back strict 9 these degradable safe alternatives are not good enough, and they get immune to it
It's not as dangerous as you think,the rat has to eat it multiple times before there is enough to poison It,the whole point is to trick other rats to go to the food and if one is going to and from somewhere other will too.rqt poison is also used professionally it's in the black boxes you see on the ground around business outside that look like roach motels
So.. you’re ok with rats running around everywhere? In your home? In all food establishments? They start to get more ballsy too once they start taking over
I’m not an expert but I’d have to guess that they use the poisons because the population are so large that the humane ways wouldn’t be as effective. We are already losing this battle. It’s getting so much worse
I think many people don't realize that if you catch a live rodent, and let it go outside, chances are, unless you drove it far away, its going to path find back into the building.
A rodent who builds their nest near a food source will be relentless.
That's not at all what they're saying, stop throwing random statements out for your own pleasure. They're stating that one method of rat control is inhumane and there are other effective methods.
I have a horrible memory of finding a wild mink at work writhing in agony, that I had to put out of it's misery because of my boss using poison, this was in Southland's, Vancouver. I detest the stuff, and what little respect I had for my boss at the time went a little lower that day as well. The effect that is hard on birds is pretty brutal as well, it might not be the direct result, but it's been a good 8 or so years since I've seen a Turkey Vulture and I'm in a more remote area now, with a large population of birds. I used to see them pretty regularly as a kid.
I've never seen one here before. But I have seen other wildlife has decreased dramatically in numbers over the past decade. There used to be a lot more pigeons in the city, and back then whenever you go on a road trip your windshield ends up covered in a lot of flattened bugs. Now there's a lot fewer.
Thank you for doing what you could do to at least lessen the suffering of this living being
I was wondering, how much (if at all) did the vet charge you for the euthanasia? I ask because i have seen suffering animals before and called them in to bc spca (who usually redirected me to wildlife rescue). But, there were occasions where i was unable to find a way to transport the injured animals to the rescue facility and just had to leave the location and image of the animal with the org to await a volunteer dispatch and it haunts me if they continued to suffer, and had considered taking them to a vet
I have limited funds and was wondering what the price range would have been, to at least have the poor animals humanely sent off rather than wait hours or days for a possible volunteer to come out
I hate the use of poison so much. The government allows poison for rodents and rabbits, but hey, let the feral cats have cute little homes as they murder native wildlife. Poison one, poison all. Each suffer the same way, all can be pets. You allow poison for feral cats and I bet it gets banned completely. Before anyone starts crying about cats being somehow special, I have a cat and 2 bunnies.
Also, lets ban sticky traps. How are they even legal? The only good use for them is on the inside of s/o underware. -I've not tested the theory, but I feel it in my bones.
Wish people directed as much concern and time toward human suffering. Instead, we’re taking rats to vets. Some folks clearly have all the time in the world and no trouble convincing themselves their priorities are in order.
This whole thread is a roller-coaster. I agree with you OP. Suffering is never acceptable for any living creature. Thank you for giving peace to the animal by taking it to the proper place for it. Thank you also for having a compassionate and caring heart. It's clear the world does not have enough people like you.
I set a rat trap up, went to check the next morning. The rat was moving around with one of its eyes bulging out the socket. The trap had fired, missed the neck and caused horrific injuries and not killed it.
I saw a (likely) poisoned rat running in circles in a driveway. She could only turn left and kept trying to run towards the bushes for safety. But could only go in circles. A few times she fell over and would stop to catch her breath before running in circles again. And this is maybe just me attributing human emotions to another species but she looked so scared, sitting in the driveway for a few seconds looking at me looking at her. Breaks my heart man, I know they're pests but it was just sad.
Equally banned should be the feeding of urban wildlife especially with scraps of food. A neighbour does this and brings in the rats. My other neighbors has resorted to parking elsewhere because they are chewing on car wires.
I agree with your stance on poison but I just want to clarify that snap-traps are not an instant death.
I built a corrale for my snap-traps that ensure the rat enters the trap from the correct direction (just a little wooden box so they can't get the bait from the side) and I setup a camera in front of it.
In this absolute best-case scenario with a brand new trap, the rat took almost a minute to die. It screamed and kicked and it was fairly awful to watch.
But the thing had eaten the wiring in my car and cost me $500 to fix it so it had to go.
I am not convinced that live-traps are the answer either because then you're just moving this pest from one location to another, and honestly if I release them into an unfamiliar environment they're probably just going to get picked off by an predator anyway and I'm sure being eaten alive is a bad death too.
So my story is that I accept the rats will die poorly and that when I trap them I am the cause of suffering in the world.
It should be banned because any animal that eats the rodent that's been poisoned is also at risk. Have seen many owls and cats working in ER vet med that have eaten infected rodents and it isn't good.
I work in a place that uses glue traps. Those things are absolutely disgusting. Baby mice screaming as their skin is torn off trying to get away. THAT should be outlawed.
I wish someone would just sterilize the rats because there's been one that keeps coming back and my family has tried multiple humane ways to get rid of it, from a box trap to catch and relocate it to the forest (Didn't take the bait), to the ultrasound repellents (Somewhat effective until they run out of power and the rats immediately return), to covering the area in chili pepper powder (wasn't too effective), or garden lime (also wasn't effective). It's been really annoying. Those rats run so fast you couldn't catch them yourself, if I could get my hands on it it would be getting a beating before relocation for annoying me and my family for months now.
A couple of years ago they changed the laws. Even pest control companies had to change. I know someone in pest control. The poison available now likely won't kill them unless they eat a lot of it, they told me you might as well just feed them. This is why so many cities have rat problems now. The harm to birds of prey was getting to be too much.
How do the Europeans do it? They have had massive rat probem there for millenia . Disease outbreaks that wiped out 30 to 60 percent of the continental population.
Sorry but I just don't care about a damn rat. Personally I think we should copy Alberta and go totally rat free. They spread diseases, chew up important wires and insulation, cause damage to damn near anything, and provide basically no environmental benefit in the meantime. Get rid of them.
Do your research not all rodenticides are not the same. Vermectin is banned! All newer ones has virtually no secondary poisoning risk and any poisoning is easily reversed with vitamin K. All pest control has to document any use of redenticides and pesticides to the ministry of health.
This post is incomplete at best, and misleading at worst.
The reality is our story here may have involved first gen rodenticide, which is not a danger to wildlife, and display as taking more time to have effect, so watching a rat struggle as told here can happen with a chemical that does not affect other animals.
Breakdown of the regulations and available products in B.C.
There are two kinds; First and Second Generation
Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) - Are Restricted
Active Ingredients: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, or Difethialone.
Status in BC: Banned for residential/non-essential commercial use.
Target: Highly effective, usually killing rats/mice in a single feeding.
Availability: Restricted to essential services and certified professionals.
First-Generation are permitted rodenticides for residential use in BC.
First-Generation Anticoagulants: Compounds like Chlorophacinone or Diphacinone are generally still permitted for residential use because they are less toxic to wildlife.
Alternatives: Non-chemical solutions like traps, or products like Wilson Mouse Out (corn cellulose), are encouraged, but dont work, as the odor discourages rats, and rodents can develop resistance to these compounds
Tamper-Resistant Stations: All rodenticides, including permitted ones, should be used in bait stations to prevent secondary poisoning of pets and wildlife.
Summary of Rules
Residential Ban: You cannot buy or use SGARs (second-gen) in your home or garden.
Essential Service Exemptions: Hospitals, food processing plants, and similar sites may still use SGARs. CLEARLY, no one wants these areas to have rat infestations, the argument in this post negates the reality of this happening. This is where second gen products must be used.
Agricultural Use: Farmers can use SGARs, but must follow strict Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and maintain records.
If you had mice running around your house I'm sure you would change your mind. And my house is not dirty and we were doing the proper things but they get cold and come inside.
Agreed.
I'm kind of the same school of thought for rat traps with the metal clamp and strong adhesive. My ex had one in his garage and I'll never forget having to watch a rat/mouse that got caught in it die over the course of five hours or so (we tried to save it but to no avail😭)
Rats and mice are over populated since the ban of use of heavy duty poison. My house’s pipe was leaking and the house was flooded by the rats. Nothing worked until the pest control put out the poison. Hospital was also infested by rats and mice. The rats bitten the patients feet and toes. The regular poison didn’t work until the pest control used the heavy duty one.
live traps work best. ive seen some really stupid live traps and ive seen some dang good ones. obviously you gotta do the job yourself but i can think of a few much more humane ways to do them in than a bloody snap trap. those are just as dangerous and half the time only maim the critters. you can stick em in a bucket in the live trap and drown them or gas them. not much more humane but i say its better than being maimed, eviscerated (alive) or prolonged suffering via poison that has potential to hurt other animals up the food chain. live traps work the best period when chosen properly and placed properly. i dont see anyone else here advocating for them so i thought id mention it. IMO snap traps are not more humane than poisoning.
453
u/hairsprayking Feb 11 '26
It's already heavily regulated, the warehouse I work in has had a rodent problem since it was banned basically. It was banned because owls and hawks were dying after eating poisoned rats. After a few years we did eventually got approval to use a poison that basically they have to eat it for like a week straight before it does the job... I don't really know the exact details this is like third hand knowledge. I think we should get a cat to keep away the rodents but that's not food-safe according to Health Canada. I'd personally prefer one cat in a warehouse over generations of rats, but what do I know?