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Guides Rat poison and wildlife

New rules in 2026: tight limits on second-generation rat poisons since 24 March

Is there an owl-safe rat poison?

Not one rat poison is proven safe for owls. Australian studies keep finding rat poison in owls found dead or dying, because owls eat poisoned prey. For rats in the roof, start with food, shelter and snap traps, and keep bait for last. APVMA APVMA Lohr 2018 WA Health

Southern boobook, or mopoke, Ninox boobook Facts checked 13 Oct 2026 34 sources

A southern boobook perched on a thin branch beside a tree trunk, looking straight at the camera — Southern boobook in Wandoo National Park, east of Perth. Photo: Jean and Fred Hort, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

Size: 28 to 36 cm the southern boobook, Australia’s littlest and commonest owl Australian Museum. A rat’s body grows up to 25 cm WA Health A southern boobook is 28 to 36 centimetres long. A rat’s body grows to about 25 centimetres.
Eats: Insects and small mammalsmostly the night shift Australian Museum
The risk: Poisoned preya rodent can take 5 to 10 days to die after a lethal dose APVMA
The rules: Tighter since 24 March 2026second-generation baits suspended for a year, and some back on sale with new labels APVMA APVMA

If you’ve got rats

or mice, start without poison. Take away food and beds, close the way in, then trap.

Check it’s a rat, not a possum. Rats and mice leave thin black droppings, 12 to 18 mm long. Squeaking, gnawing or scratching in the roof can also be a possum. WA Health A rat that climbs and nests in the roof, with a tail longer than its body, is the introduced black rat. Shy bushland rats have shorter tails. Australian Museum Possums are native, and it’s an offence to kill, injure or move native animals without a permit. DBCA Our possum guide covers droppings, noises and how to get one out without hurting it.
Take away food. Keep food, pet food, bird seed and chicken feed in sealed containers. Tight lids on bins. Fruit picked, windfalls cleared, pets’ leftovers lifted. WA Health
Take away shelter. Clear clutter and garden waste, clean out the shed, stack firewood about 40 cm off the ground, and skip open compost heaps. WA Health
Close the way in. Seal gaps and holes, fix or fit mesh screens, and cover tank openings and floor vents with mesh no coarser than 1 mm. WA Health
Trap. WA Health calls the humble snap trap (a spring-back break trap) “still the safest trap for home use”. Set several at once, away from the kitchen, and check them daily. Wrap the bodies before binning them. WA Health Set them away from other wildlife, such as indoors. BirdLife Skip sticky glue traps: RSPCA Australia says they cause severe pain and suffering. RSPCA
If you bait, follow the label to the letter. Under the 2026 suspension, home baits with second-generation poisons are indoors only, in a secured tamper-resistant bait station, for no more than 35 days. Look for dead rodents at every check and bin them. APVMA Not sure what’s in your pack? See which active ingredients to avoid. Or use a licensed pest management technician, and ask for a plan that covers entry points and food sources too. WA Health
An animal in trouble? For injured wildlife, ring the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055. DBCA Outside WA, see who to call for injured wildlife in each state. For a sick or dead wild bird, don’t touch it: report it on 1800 675 888, as H5 bird flu has been found in WA. DPIRD If a child may have eaten bait, ring the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or 000 if they’ve collapsed. WA Health For a pet, ring your vet. WA Health

Does rat poison hurt owls

and other wildlife? Yes, and often. Australian studies keep finding it in owls, snakes, lizards and possums, from Perth to the eastern states. Lohr 2018 Lettoof 2020 Cooke 2023

Perth and WA

Dugite, Perth Lettoof 2020

91%

Southern boobook, WA Lohr 2018

72.6%

Bobtail, Perth Lettoof 2020

60%

Tiger snake, Perth Lettoof 2020

45%

Victoria, SA and NSW

Owls and frogmouths, 4 species Cooke 2023, second-generation only

92%

Brushtail possum, Victoria Scammell 2024

91%

Ringtail possum, Victoria Scammell 2024

40%

Share of animals tested with rat poison (anticoagulant rodenticide) in the liver, as each study reports it. The birds and possums tested were found dead or dying, so these aren’t rates for healthy wild populations.

How many carried harmful levels?

Finding poison isn’t the same as finding enough to hurt. Several studies also measured how many birds carried levels where harm was possible or likely.

Western Australia

Southern boobook Lohr 2018, above 0.1 mg/kg

50.7%

Victoria, SA and NSW

Barn owl Cooke 2023

80%

Tawny frogmouth Cooke 2023

68%

Southern boobook Cooke 2023

42%

Powerful owl Cooke 2023

33%

Tasmania

Masked owl Clarke 2025, above 0.1 mg/kg

53%

Share of birds found dead or dying with second-generation rat poison in the liver at levels where harm was possible or likely, as each study defines it. The cut-offs differ between studies, so compare with care. Lohr 2018 Cooke 2023 Clarke 2025

Masked owls in WA. BirdLife Australia reported on 20 February 2026 that Edith Cowan University researchers found second-generation rat poison in every masked owl they tested from the south-west and Perth. That is a media release, not yet a published paper, and the lead researcher said the sample may overrepresent birds found sick or injured. We quote no count. BirdLife

16 of 17: Tasmanian masked owls tested carried second-generation rat poison, nine of them at likely toxic levels. Clarke 2025
29 species: of animals appear in Wildlife Health Australia’s records of suspected or confirmed rat-poison poisoning, 2003 to 2021: 77 records covering 667 animals. Wildlife Health Australia
5 to 10 days: How long a poisoned rodent can linger, still eating bait and still easy prey. APVMA

Is rat poison being banned

in Australia? Not banned, but restricted, and still under review. Here’s where the national regulator, the APVMA, stands on 13 October 2026.

16 Dec 2025A proposed decision. The APVMA found that the way second-generation baits are used “is creating current risks to non-target animals, including native wildlife”. It proposed limits on all anticoagulant baits, first-generation ones too, and cancelling some products. APVMA
10 Mar 2026A case for licensing. The APVMA certified that second-generation baits should become “restricted chemical products”, so only people with the right training and licence could buy and use them. APVMA
24 Mar 2026A one-year suspension starts. Second-generation products may only be sold and used under the APVMA’s published instructions, and shops must hand buyers a printed copy. For home products: indoors only, in a secured tamper-resistant bait station, for no more than 35 days, checking for dead rodents at every visit. APVMA Gazette No 5 APVMA FAQ
May to Jun 2026Licensing consulted on. The federal Agriculture department asked for views from 11 May to 11 June. If declared, these baits “would only be available to people authorised under legislation in each state and territory”. The APVMA says a firm timeline “is not yet available”. APVMA APVMA FAQ
Jun to Oct 2026Products return, one at a time. The APVMA has been changing individual products’ labels to add instructions and conditions, then lifting their suspensions: the first on 2 June, the latest we found on 29 September. Gazette No 12 Gazette No 20
NowNo final decision yet. The APVMA’s review page, last updated 16 December 2025, still lists its final decision as “Forecasted”. We found no final decision in its news or Gazette lists to 6 October 2026. APVMA
Late 2026 to early 2027A minister’s decision is expected. The Agriculture department lists the minister’s decision on declaring these baits restricted chemical products as pending, for late 2026 to early 2027. The suspension itself lasts one year from 24 March 2026. Agriculture department APVMA

Our summary of APVMA notices, not legal advice. The APVMA says its suspension instructions “are enforceable under state and territory legislation and apply nationally”. APVMA

Which rat poison is safest

for wildlife? None is proven safe, so trap first. If you do bait, the active ingredient on the back of the pack matters more than the claims on the front. APVMA BirdLife

Rat poison types by active ingredient, and what the sources say about the risk to wildlife
Type	Active ingredients	What the sources say
Second-generation anticoagulants	brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone, flocoumafen	Avoid. One feed can kill, they break down slowly, and the APVMA says they carry a higher risk of secondary poisoning. APVMA Brodifacoum and bromadiolone were involved in most Australian wildlife poisoning events. Wildlife Health Australia BirdLife Australia says to avoid every one. BirdLife
First-generation anticoagulants	warfarin, coumatetralyl, diphacinone	Lower risk, not no risk. They break down faster in rodents, so the APVMA says there is “less chance” of secondary poisoning, and it is reviewing them too. APVMA APVMA BirdLife Australia lists warfarin and coumatetralyl as a last resort. BirdLife
Vitamin D3	cholecalciferol	Lower secondary risk, but no antidote. The APVMA says second-generation baits pose a greater secondary poisoning risk than cholecalciferol. APVMA BirdLife Australia notes there is no antidote if an animal is poisoned, so it must stay out of reach of pets and wildlife. BirdLife
Salt and corn gluten meal	sodium chloride, corn gluten meal	Not anticoagulants. BirdLife Australia calls them safer for non-target animals than second-generation baits, and lists them as a last resort. BirdLife BirdLife
Bromethalin	bromethalin	Not a safe swap. When it was registered, the APVMA could not conclude that the risk to animals eating poisoned rodents or slugs was acceptable. APVMA
Zinc phosphide	zinc phosphide	Not for houses. Little poison stays in a dead rodent, but wet bait can release a toxic gas, so the APVMA does not approve it for use in houses. APVMA

We group baits by active ingredient and name no brands. BirdLife Australia warns that one brand can sell products with different poisons, so always read the ingredient list. BirdLife The rules in force today are in the dated list above.

At the shop, in four steps

Read the active ingredient. Flip the pack, find it on the label and check it against the table. BirdLife
Look for an APVMA approval number. It’s on the back of the pack. APVMA
Choose blocks in a bait station over loose bait. BirdLife Australia says loose pellets and paste are easily eaten by wildlife, and suggests blocks in tamper-proof stations inside buildings wildlife can’t get into, not under carports. BirdLife
Don’t bin old bait. BirdLife Australia says rats can get into rubbish, and suggests asking your local council about chemical clean-up days. BirdLife

How can you tell

if an owl is poisoned? You can’t be sure by looking. A poisoned owl can look weak or hurt, and plenty of other things cause that. Even vets lean on tests and the animal’s history. Wildlife Health Australia

We don’t diagnose or treat animals. This is what the sources describe, so you know when to ring for help.

What you might see. Birds poisoned by rat poison can turn slow and lethargic, fly badly and sometimes bleed from the mouth or eyes. BirdLife Vets look for pale mucous membranes (the moist lining of the mouth and eyes), unusual bruising and bleeding with no sign of an injury. Wildlife Health Australia
An owl out by day isn’t always sick. Southern boobooks are often seen perched on open branches or in tree-tops in daylight. Qld Government Our boobook guide says when to leave one alone.
An owl on a road verge. Poisoned birds fly badly, so they’re more likely to be hit by cars or to hit power lines and buildings. BirdLife
If you’re worried, ring. Don’t touch it, feed it or try to treat it. In WA, ring the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055. DBCA Report a sick or dead wild bird on 1800 675 888, as H5 bird flu has been found in WA. DPIRD Elsewhere, see who to call in each state. BirdLife Australia says some poisoned birds recover with careful treatment, though many don’t. BirdLife

How to get rid

of rats without poison? Food, shelter, the way in, then traps. Fridge-door list, and what puts owls at risk.

Do

Keep food, pet food, bird seed and chicken feed in sealed containers. WA Health
Pick fruit, clear up windfalls, and keep tight lids on bins. WA Health
Seal gaps and holes, and mesh tank openings and floor vents. WA Health
Stack firewood about 40 cm off the ground, and clear clutter. WA Health
Set several snap traps, and check them every day. WA Health
Wrap dead rodents and bin them. WA Health
Read the active ingredient on any bait before you buy it. BirdLife

Don’t

Use a home second-generation bait outdoors, or outside a secured tamper-resistant bait station. APVMA
Leave bait where children or pets can reach it. WA Health
Keep baiting past 35 days. Get advice instead. APVMA
Leave dead rats and mice where an owl, cat or dog could eat them. APVMA WA Health
Use farm baits at home. WA Health
Kill or move a possum. It’s an offence without a permit. DBCA
Use sticky glue traps. RSPCA Australia says they cause severe pain and suffering. RSPCA

Do owls eat poisoned

rats? Owls that hunt rats and mice can. Barn owls feed mostly on small mammals, rats and mice. Australian Museum A poisoned rodent can take 5 to 10 days to die, and it keeps feeding the whole time. APVMA Here’s what people ask most, answered up front.

Is there an owl-friendly rat poison?

No poison has been shown to be safe for owls. The APVMA says first-generation poisons (warfarin, coumatetralyl and diphacinone) break down faster in rodents, so there’s “less chance” of poisoning the animals that eat them. Less isn’t none, and they’re part of the review too, with new limits proposed. APVMA APVMA BirdLife Australia lists first-generation, salt-based and corn gluten baits as last-resort options, and says to avoid every second-generation one. BirdLife

For bromethalin, a newer poison that isn’t an anticoagulant, the APVMA couldn’t conclude that the risk to animals eating poisoned rodents was acceptable. Zinc phosphide isn’t approved for use in houses. APVMA APVMA The table above sets each type side by side.

Does rat poison hurt owls?

Yes. Most owls tested in Australia carry it, many at harmful levels. Of 73 boobooks found dead or dying in urban and semi-urban WA, 72.6% had rat poison in the liver and 50.7% had potentially dangerous levels. Lohr 2018 APVMA In Victoria, SA and NSW, second-generation poisons were in 92% of the owls and frogmouths tested. Cooke 2023 In Tasmania, they were in 16 of 17 masked owls, nine of them at likely toxic levels. Clarke 2025

Of 696 wildlife health incidents recorded nationally from 2006 to 2021, 77 (11%) involved suspected rat poisoning. The APVMA notes that effects on whole populations haven’t been established, but counts each wildlife death as harm in its own right. APVMA

Hear a two-note “boo-book” outside at night? That’s the southern boobook owl, and our guide to it covers its call, its year and how rat poison reaches it.

Is rat poison banned in Australia?

No. The APVMA has suspended second-generation rat poisons for a year with strict use rules, and its review has no final decision yet. From 24 March 2026, they can only be sold and used under the APVMA’s published instructions. For home use that means indoors, in a secured tamper-resistant bait station, for no more than 35 days. APVMA Gazette No 5 Products are coming back on sale one at a time with new labels. APVMA

Whether these baits become licensed-user-only is still to be decided. The APVMA says a firm timeline isn’t available, and the Agriculture department lists the minister’s decision as pending, for late 2026 to early 2027. APVMA FAQ Agriculture department This answer is as at 13 October 2026.

Is rat poison dangerous to other animals?

Yes: to reptiles, possums, parrots and pets too. In Perth it turned up in 91% of dugites, 60% of bobtails and 45% of tiger snakes tested. Lettoof 2020 In Victoria it was in 91% of brushtail possums tested, and powerful owls there seem to get most of theirs from eating possums, not rats. Scammell 2024 Scammell 2026 In WA, second-generation rat poison was found to have poisoned a wild Carnaby’s cockatoo, the first such case in a wild Australian parrot. Le Souëf 2024 And WA Health warns that pets and children may eat baits or poisoned rodents. WA Health

Wildlife Health Australia’s list of suspected or confirmed cases also includes common brushtail possums, tawny frogmouths, shinglebacks (bobtails) and southern brown bandicoots, which Perth calls quenda. Wildlife Health Australia

What if my dog or child eats rat poison?

Ring for help straight away. For a person, ring the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours), or 000 if they’ve collapsed or stopped breathing. WA Health For a pet that has eaten bait or a poisoned rodent, contact your vet. WA Health

What’s the difference between first- and second-generation rat poison?

Strength, and how long the poison lasts in the body. First-generation baits (warfarin, coumatetralyl and diphacinone) need several feeds to kill. Second-generation baits (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone and flocoumafen) can kill in one feed, break down more slowly, and carry a higher risk of poisoning the animals that eat the rodents. APVMA Brodifacoum and bromadiolone were involved in most Australian wildlife poisoning events. Wildlife Health Australia

Can you put rat bait outside?

Not a home bait with a second-generation poison, under the suspension rules. The APVMA’s instruction for those products is “DO NOT use this product outdoors.” APVMA Products back on sale have new labels with extra conditions, so read yours before you start. APVMA The APVMA also says second-generation baits aren’t approved for use “in the open, or in other areas accessible to non-target animals or children”. APVMA

Can you tell if an owl has been poisoned?

Not for sure by looking. Birds poisoned by rat poison can turn slow and lethargic, fly badly and sometimes bleed from the mouth or eyes, but many illnesses and injuries look similar. BirdLife Vets lean on tests, bleeding signs and the animal’s history to work it out. Wildlife Health Australia If you find a bird in trouble, ring for help rather than trying to work it out yourself.

What should I do if I find a sick owl?

Don’t touch it, and don’t try to treat it. In WA, report a sick or dead wild bird to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888. DPIRD For an injured one, ring the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055: its volunteers can put you in touch with your nearest registered wildlife rehabilitator. DBCA asks you not to give the animal food or water. DBCA

Which WA councils are owl friendly?

By June 2026, 21 WA local governments had declared themselves Owl Friendly, and 11 more avoided these poisons or promoted alternatives. The Owl Friendly ones include Fremantle, Melville, Stirling, Cockburn, Bunbury, Geraldton and Augusta-Margaret River, and they don’t use second-generation rat poison in their own pest control. Busselton writes alternatives to these poisons into its pest-control contracts. WALGA, the peak body for WA councils, counted them and describes them as the councils’ own policies and practices. WALGA Check your council’s website for its position.

Sources, checked 13 October 2026

Rodenticides APVMA, updated 26 Jun 2025 (still the date shown on 13 Oct 2026): first- and second-generation chemicals; rodents die 5 to 10 days after a lethal dose; “less chance” of secondary poisoning with first-generation; second-generation not approved “in the open”; second-generation pose a greater secondary risk than zinc phosphide, coumatetralyl and cholecalciferol; zinc phosphide not for houses; look for the approval number on the back of the pack
Anticoagulant rodenticides chemical review APVMA, content updated 16 Dec 2025 (still the date shown on 13 Oct 2026): final regulatory decision “Forecasted”; the APVMA news list (latest item 13 Aug 2026) and Gazette list (latest No 20, 6 Oct 2026) show no final decision
APVMA proposes sweeping changes to anticoagulant rodenticide use APVMA news, 16 Dec 2025: the proposed decision, covering first-generation products too
APVMA certifies that second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides should be restricted chemical products APVMA news, 10 Mar 2026: one-year suspension from 24 March 2026; instructions enforceable nationally
APVMA Gazette No 5, 10 March 2026 the suspension notice and reasons: home products indoors only, in secured tamper-resistant bait stations, for no more than 35 days, with dead rodents removed at each visit; 77 of 696 wildlife incidents (2006 to 2021) involved suspected rodenticide poisoning (para 20)
FAQs: anticoagulant rodenticides and actions by the APVMA APVMA, 19 Mar 2026: printed instructions given at sale; no firm timeline for restricted status
Proposal to declare SGARs to be restricted chemical products APVMA, 11 May 2026: Agriculture department consultation, 11 May to 11 June 2026
APVMA Gazette No 12, 16 June 2026 first suspensions lifted (2 June 2026) after label changes
APVMA Gazette No 20, 6 October 2026 latest suspensions lifted (29 September 2026), with labels varied “to include additional instructions, and conditions”
Public release summary on bromethalin APVMA, June 2021: acceptable risks of secondary poisoning “could not be concluded”
Anticoagulant rodenticides review technical report APVMA, Dec 2025: describes Lohr 2018’s 73 boobooks as from urban and peri-urban areas of WA
Lohr 2018, anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in an Australian predatory bird Science of the Total Environment 643: southern boobooks found dead or dying; 72.6% exposed, 50.7% above 0.1 mg/kg
Lettoof and others 2020, “Toxic time bombs” Science of the Total Environment 724, Perth: dugites 91%, bobtails 60%, tiger snakes 45%
Cooke and others 2023, “Silent killers?” Science of the Total Environment 904, Victoria, SA and NSW: second-generation poisons in 92% of four owl and frogmouth species; potentially toxic or lethal levels in 33% of powerful owls, 68% of tawny frogmouths, 42% of southern boobooks and 80% of barn owls
Scammell and others 2024, “The missing toxic link” Science of the Total Environment 933, Victoria: brushtail possums 91%, ringtail possums 40%
Scammell and others 2026, “Beyond rodents” Science of the Total Environment 1013, Victoria: powerful owls poisoned mainly through possums
Le Souëf and others 2024, rodenticide toxicosis in a wild Carnaby’s cockatoo Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 38(3), WA: first case in a wild Australian parrot
Keeping rats and mice under control WA Health (HealthyWA), last reviewed 13 May 2026: food, shelter, entry points, traps, possum noises, farm baits, pets, licensed technicians, disposal
Prevent poisoning in the home WA Health with the WA Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26, 24 hours; 000 if collapsed
Wildcare Helpline DBCA: the helpline number; referral to registered rehabilitators; don’t give food or water
H5 bird flu in Western Australia DPIRD, updated 12 Oct 2026: avoid sick or dead wild birds; report them on 1800 675 888; injured wildlife to the Wildcare Helpline
Living with native wildlife DBCA: native fauna is protected; an offence to kill, injure, trade, keep or move it without a permit
Southern boobook Australian Museum, updated 28 Jul 2022: 28 to 36 cm; also called mopoke; eats insects and small mammals, mostly at night
Eastern barn owl Australian Museum, updated 29 Jul 2022: feeds mostly on small mammals, rats and mice
Rodenticide toxicity in Australian wildlife Wildlife Health Australia fact sheet, February 2023: brodifacoum and bromadiolone behind most wildlife poisoning events; what vets look for; diagnosis relies on tests and history; 77 records covering 667 animals of 29 species (2003 to 2021), including brushtail possums, tawny frogmouths, shinglebacks and southern brown bandicoots
Clarke and others 2025, “Unmasking the impact of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides on Masked owls in Tasmania” Emu 125(2): second-generation poison in 16 of 17 masked owls (94%); likely toxic liver levels (above 0.1 mg/kg) in nine (53%)
A guide to rat poison alternatives BirdLife Australia, no date shown (read 13 Oct 2026): traps first and poison as a last resort; read the active ingredient; avoid every second-generation poison; last-resort options; blocks in tamper-proof stations inside buildings; set traps away from other wildlife
SGARs frequently asked questions BirdLife Australia, last updated 29 Aug 2026: poisoned birds become slow and lethargic, may bleed from the mouth and eyes and fly badly; some recover with treatment; salt-based baits safer for non-target species; ask your council about disposal
Toxic Rat Poisons Found in 100% of Masked Owls BirdLife Australia media release, 20 Feb 2026: Edith Cowan University masked owl results from WA’s south-west and Perth; a release, not a peer-reviewed paper; the lead researcher said the sample may overrepresent sick or injured birds; the release is unclear on 13 versus 16 owls, so we quote no count
Proposed restrictions for second generation anticoagulant rodenticides Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (read 13 Oct 2026): consultation closed 11 June 2026; minister’s decision pending, late 2026 to early 2027
Is it a rat? Australian Museum (no date shown): black rats climb, nest in roofs and have tails longer than their bodies; native bush rats are shy, nest in bush and have shorter tails
Are glue boards legal in Australia? RSPCA Australia knowledgebase, updated 29 Oct 2025: glue boards cause severe pain and suffering
Southern boobook Queensland Government, last reviewed 29 Jun 2026: birds often seen perched on open branches or in tree-tops during the day
Proposal to declare second generation anticoagulant rodenticides as restricted chemical products WALGA submission, June 2026: 32 WA local governments limit these poisons and 21 have declared Owl Friendly (Appendix 1 names them); Busselton specifies alternatives in pest contracts from 2021

Study figures are for the animals each study tested, not whole wild populations. We name chemicals, never products, and link to no shops. BirdLife Australia campaigns for a ban on second-generation baits, so we use its practical advice and name it each time.