Journal Article

Zinc phosphide baits and prebaiting for controlling rats in Hawaiian sugarcane

Sugihara, R.T. (Denver Wildlife Research Center, USDA, Hilo, HI.), Koehler, A.E, Tobin, M.E

1995

Overview

Sugarcane growers in Hawaii suffer crop damage and sugar losses to rats (Rattus spp.). We conducted tests to evaluate commercial zinc phosphide baits for reducing rat populations in Hawaiian sugarcane fields. During laboratory bioassays, mortality of black rats (R. rattus) and Polynesian rats (R. exulans) was higher (P < 0.05) with KFE Zinc Phosphide Prepared-Rat Bait and Hopkins Zinc Phosphide Pellets than with ZP Rodent Bait AG or Ridall-Zinc Rodent Field and Agricultural Bait. Hopkins Zinc Phosphide Pellets was the most effective (P < 0.05) bait against Norway rats (R. norvegicus), but low mortality with even this bait (70%) indicates the effectiveness of field applications may be variable. Single aerial broadcast applications of HGP Zincphos Oats or Hopkins pellets did not reduce (P > 0.05) the number of rats captured in sugarcane fields. Prebaiting with nontoxic grain according to manufacturers' instructions enhanced (P < 0.05) effectiveness of zinc phosphide oat bait, but not zinc phosphide pelleted bait (P > 0.05). However, substantial numbers of rats remained in all fields, regardless of rodenticide or whether fields were prebaited with nontoxic grain. Absorption of moisture and physical degradation may have reduced rats' acceptance of pellets. A more weather-resistant bait is needed to control rat depredations in wet and humid areas.

• Publisher: The Wildlife Society,Wildlife Society,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: ANIMAL NUISIBLE / Animal traps / ANIMALES NOCIVOS / Animals / Baits / Biological and medical sciences / CHEMICAL CONTROL / CONTROL DE ROEDORES / CONTROL QUIMICO / crop damage / CROP LOSSES / Crops / EFFICACY / FOSFORO DE CINC / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / HAWAI / HAWAII / LUTTE ANTIRONGEUR / LUTTE CHIMIQUE / MORTALIDAD / MORTALITE / MORTALITY / NOXIOUS ANIMALS / Oats / PERDIDAS DE LA COSECHA / PERTE DE RECOLTE / Pesticides / PESTS OF PLANTS / Phosphides / PHOSPHURE DE ZINC / Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection / PLAGAS DE PLANTAS / Polynesian studies / RAT / RATA / RATS / Rattus / RAVAGEUR DES PLANTES / RODENT CONTROL / Rodenticides / Rodents / SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM / Sugar cane / Sugarcane / VERTEBRADOS / vertebrate pests / VERTEBRATES / VERTEBRE / Wildlife management / Zinc / ZINC PHOSPHIDE