Use of zinc phosphide to overcome rodent infestations, From: EJ Wright, MC Webb and E Highley, Stored grain in Australia 2003

Of the many rodenticides available for rodent management, few provide immediate control on a large scale while also offering a high level of safety to non-target predators and scavengers in the food chain. These are minimum requirements for the control of rodents in broadacre crops and in certain other agricultural situations. The need to meet the combined objectives of high potency and high safety has led to renewed interest in zinc phosphide (ZP) as a suit- able active constituent of rodent baits. ZP is generally well accepted by rodents, is relatively safe for secondary non-target species, and does not leave any significant residues in crops, soil, water or the atmosphere. MOUSEOFF® zinc phosphide mouse bait been used suc- cessfully to protect large areas of Australian crops from mouse infestation, first under emergency permit in 1997, and in all major mouse infestations subsequent to registration in 2000. More recently, research on related ZP technology has led to the use, under permit, of RATTOFF® to control rats in Queensland cane fields and hoop pine plantations. The research may be extended to the development of formulations and presentations of ZP bait that are suitable for rodent control in industrial situations including grain storages, warehouses, farm machinery areas, and perhaps for intensive animal and fodder storage facilities. Industry-sponsored extension and training programs have also com- menced to improve knowledge about the new technology and to encourage a more proactive and less reactive manage- ment approach to rodent infestations in crops. The use of the new ZP technology will thus form a part of, rather than alternative to, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for rodents.