Editing Pest control (section)

====Poisoned bait====
[[File:Rodent Bait Station, Chennai, India.jpg|thumb|left|Rodent bait station, [[Chennai]], India]]

Poisoned [[Bait (luring substance)|bait]] is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for the target species and a suitable poison. For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance.<ref name=O'conner40/> Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide [[metaldehyde]], dangerous to children and household pets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html |title=Snails and slugs |author1=Flint, M.L. |author2=Wilen, C.A. |work=Pests in Gardens and Landscapes  |publisher=UC IPM |access-date=28 August 2017}}</ref>

An article in [[Scientific American]] in 1885 described effective elimination of a [[cockroach]] infestation using fresh [[cucumber]] peels.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4U9AQAAIAAJ|title=Scientific American|date=1885-09-26|publisher=Munn & Company|pages=195|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Rodent bait box with bait.jpg|thumb|right|Bait being placed in a rodent bait box.]]

[[Warfarin]] has traditionally been used to kill rodents, but many populations have developed resistance to this [[anticoagulant]], and [[difenacoum]] may be substituted. These are cumulative poisons, requiring bait stations to be topped up regularly.<ref name=O'conner40>{{cite book|author=Pat O'connor-marer |title=Residential, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TsmqStw-iP0C&pg=PA40 |year=2006 |publisher=UCANR Publications |isbn=978-1-879906-70-9}}</ref> Poisoned meat has been used for centuries to kill animals such as wolves<ref name=Anderson/> and birds of prey.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gamekeeper found guilty of poisoning 10 buzzards and a sparrowhawk |author=Barkham, Patrick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/02/gamekeeper-guilty-poisoning-birds-of-prey-norfolk |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Poisoned carcasses however kill a wide range of carrion feeders, not only the targeted species.<ref name=Anderson>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20150609/farmer-sentenced-2-years-for-poisoning-animals |title=Farmer poisoned 24 animals in bid to kill wolf |author=Anderson, Emma |date=9 June 2015 |work=The Local |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Raptors in Israel were nearly wiped out following a period of intense poisoning of rats and other crop pests.<ref>{{cite book|author=Newton, Ian|title=Population Ecology of Raptors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3f7UBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 |year=2010 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4081-3854-0 |page=262}}</ref>