Advances in toxic baits and delivery

Abstract

Internationally, the number of toxins available for the control of small mammals has declined. Risks accompanying their field use are determined in part by their tendency to bioaccummulate, bait types and baiting systems. Three new low residue toxins have been researched and registered with NZ EPA and MPI for field use, namely para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) in 2011 for stoats and feral cats, zinc phosphide for possums in 2012 and encapsulated sodium nitrite (ESN) in 2013 for possums and feral pigs. The development of PAPP and ESN represent the first new vertebrate pesticides registered for field control of mammalian pests anywhere in the world for > 25 years. Research on new rodenticides continues e.g Diphacinone and Cholecalciferol filed with EPA in 2015) and we are focused on extending the potential of these emerging technologies, namely new toxins in new baits and delivery systems.