RATTOFF® in the Environment
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There are many safety features which make RATTOFF® one of the safest methods of rat control available.
RATTOFF® is designed to degrade without trace in the environment.
As zinc phosphide is not readily absorbed by the leaves or roots of plants, does not diffuse in soil and degrades over time, there is no risk of contamination of crops when RATTOFF® is used as directed.
Extensive residue studies have even tested the potential for contamination if all the bait for 0.1 hectares was applied to a single plant. Even then, the risk of residues is more than 1000 times lower than internationally accepted limits.
Poisoning of birds or other animals with traditional anticoagulant baits is well known, and these baits are now banned from use in crops in most countries. Second-generation anticoagulant baits pose risks to wildlife because the chemicals (particularly brodifacoum) persist for long periods in most animals.
Bans on the use of second-generation anticoagulant products for large-scale use in crops are well justified and should be strictly observed by all those with a concern for the environment.
In contrast, zinc phosphide in RATTOFF® degrades quickly in the carcass and in the environment, does not bio-accumulate in tissues, causes vomiting in low doses (rodents cannot vomit or regurgitate so do not have a means of discharging bait materials) and kills the target rodents quickly so they cannot absorb large doses of poison.
RATTOFF® sachets are camouflaged to ensure they blend well with soil and trash or stubble material, making them less visible to birds. Also the bait itself is coloured grey/black, which is one of the least preferred food colours for birds (rodents are colourblind and are not dissuaded by unusual food colours).
Bandicoots are commonly present in cane crops so special studies have been conducted to test for the specific risk to these animals. Bandicoots were live captured, tagged and released before baiting.
After baiting (and a large reduction in rat populations), the tagged bandicoots were still present in the crop and could be captured again, alive and well.
As with any chemical product, it is important that all instructions and restrictions on the label are followed exactly. RATTOFF® should never be used for any other purpose or provided in large localised concentrations.
Rats find the RATTOFF® formulation very palatable and quickly find and eat into the bait sachets with most sachets being opened within days of placement.
The rats commonly drag the sachets back to their nests. Not only does this remove the sachets from above ground but it also delivers the product directly to the colony. The majority of rodents are killed within 4 hours of ingesting the bait.
Some dead rats are found scattered throughout the crop area, but a great many more die within their nests underground. Thus, the total impact of treatment is greater than what is observed on the surface.
RATTOFF® – Protecting Australia's sugar crops.
Animal Control Technologies
46-50 Freight Drive
Somerton, Victoria, 3062
Australia
Telephone +61 3 9308 9688
Fax +61 3 9308 9622
E-mail: enquiries@animalcontrol.com.au
