Walther, BerndGeduhn, AnkeSchenke, DetlefSchlötelburg, Annika2024-06-162024-06-162020https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-1268https://openumwelt.de/handle/123456789/4114BACKGROUND Commensal rodents such as Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk.), black rats (R. rattus L.) and house mice (Mus musculus L.) damage stored produce and infrastructure, cause hygienic problems and transmit zoonotic pathogens to humans. The management of commensal rodents relies mainly on the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). ARs are persistent and bioâ€Ìaccumulative, which can cause exposure of nonâ€Ìtarget species. We compared the baiting strategies to use brodifacoum (BR) in bait boxes indoors only versus in and around buildings in replicated field trials at livestock farms to assess resulting BR residues in nonâ€Ìtarget small mammals. RESULTS When bait was used indoors only, the percentage of trapped nonâ€Ìtarget small mammals with BR residues as well as BR concentration in liver tissue was about 50% lower in comparison to bait application in and around buildings. These effects occurred in murid rodents and shrews but not in voles that were generally only mildly exposed. During the baiting period, BR concentration in murids was stable but decreased by about 50% in shrews. CONCLUSION Restricting the application of BR bait to indoors only can reduce exposure of nonâ€Ìtarget species. The positive effect of this baiting strategy on nonâ€Ìtarget species needs to be balanced with the need for an effective pest rodent management within a reasonable time. More research is needed to clarify which management approaches strike this balance best. © 2020 The Authors1 Onlineresource (9 pages)online resourceenghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Wissenschaftlicher Artikel