Sodium fluoracetate (1080) as a rat poison

Abstract

1. Sodium fluoracetate (1080) has been tested in the field as a poison for Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus.2. Direct poisoning (without Prebaiting) was used in thirteen tests on R. norvegicus. In eight of these tests censuses showed kills of at least 89% in three tests the poison failed, and in two the results were equivocal.3. Of three similar tests against R. rattus two were successful and one was a failure.4. Six tests of 1080 after prebaiting gave five successes (including one against R. rattus), and one in which the estimated kill was about 82%.5. In five out of six tests populations of R. norvegicus which had survived baiting with 1080 showed shyness (refusal) of the poison when it was given in a new bait base.6. The LD 50 of 1080 for a strain of white rats was found to be 3·8 mg./kg. (approx. range 2·8–5·2).7. A number of wild brids and some domestic animals were accidentally killed during the tests despite stringent precautions taken in laying the bait and in warning occupiers.8. It is concluded that: (a) although 1080 is probably more effective in direct poisoning than other poisons used in the past, it does not give as consistent results as the standard poisons do after prebaiting; (b) 1080 is too dangerous for general use.