Rat Poison Rules in California and What They Mean for You

If you've lived somewhere else, you might expect a pest company to put bait boxes around the house and call it done. California is different. According to UC IPM, rodenticides available in California are limited to bromethalin, cholecalciferol and zinc phosphide, and most anticoagulants are prohibited in most areas.

What That Means at Your House

Traps and sealing do most of the work. UC IPM calls snap traps the safest, most effective and most economical way to control rats in most cases. A company working in San Francisco should talk to you about trap placement and exclusion first, and any bait they use should be one of the allowed products in a tamper-resistant station.

• Snap traps along walls for Norway rats
• Traps on ledges, beams and fence rails for roof rats
• Pre-baiting traps with untreated bait to get past trap shyness
• Sealing so new rats can't replace the ones you catch

Bait Safety

Where bait is used, UC IPM says to use tamper-resistant bait stations anywhere children, pets or other animals could reach it. Tell the company about kids, dogs, cats and any wildlife you see in the yard before anything gets set.

Pesticides in Rentals

In San Francisco rentals, the health department says only a licensed pest control operator may apply restricted pesticides, and tenants must be notified before treatments as state rules require. If you're a tenant and someone wants to put out bait in your unit, you should hear about it first.

Why Traps Can Take a While

Rats are wary of new things. UC IPM suggests leaving traps baited but unset for a few days so rats get used to them. Don't be surprised if the first week is slow. Rat control and rodent exclusion explain the full approach.

See also: Rat Control, Rodent Exclusion, Mouse Control