Rat poison is a very serious topic.
Rats love animal feed and they love to take up residence in a shed or barn where animal feed is stored.
Shelter, food, a warm nest of hay – what else could a rat ask for! Some rabbit owners choose to fight back against the rats by using poison rat bait. So, we sometimes hear the question, “Will rat bait kill rabbits?”
Yes, if your rabbit happens to nibble on rat bait, then the rabbit will very likely die. Rat bait will kill rabbits, and it may be too late for your rabbit by the time you notice it acting strangely and discover that it had access to rat bait.
The videos below are very informative.
Please read on about this important topic and be sure to view the videos!
Is Rat Poison Harmful To Rabbits?
Yes, rat poison is harmful to any human or animal that ingests it, including rabbits.
Rabbits are not rodents, they are lagomorphs, but if they ingest enough rat poison they will die.
The rat poison does not discriminate:
It will kill children, pets, goats, deer, birds, anything and all common hobby farm and homestead animals!
Further, the active ingredient in many rat poisons is an anticoagulant. The anticoagulant is a blood thinner that leads to spontaneous internal bleeding and death.
If an animal eats or scavenges on a rat or other animal that died due to an anticoagulant rat poison, then the animal or scavenger may also eat enough active ingredient and die.
So, for instance, if a rat dies due to an anticoagulant based rat poison, and your dog finds and chews on that rat, your dog ingest enough of the anticoagulant active ingredient and die.
As another example, cats and birds of prey such as hawks and eagles sometimes die because they have unknowingly eaten a rat that is full of rat poison.
Note that if the active ingredient is zinc phosphide, then consumption of the dead rate will not poison the animal that ate the rat.
Does Rat Poison Work On Rabbits?
Yes, rat poison “works on” rabbits. As in, a rabbit that eats enough rat poison, and it doesn’t take much, will very likely die.
Will Rat Bait Kill Rabbits?
Yes, rat baits are especially formulated to attract and poison rats and other rodents. Although not a rodent, if a curious rabbit nibbles on rat bait, then it will die within several days, if not sooner.
My Rabbit Ate Rat Poison – What Do I Do?
If your rabbit eats rat poison, you should:
- Call your local veterinarian’s emergency phone number.
- If possible, tell your vet what kind of poison (Brand name and active ingredient) was consumed.
- Follow your vet’s direction
Recall that rabbits can not vomit or regurgitate what they have eaten.
How Quickly Does Rat Bait Work?
Most rat baits make their victim sick in a matter of hours and kill in a day or two.
Are Rabbits Attracted To Rat Poison?
Rabbits may be attracted to the site and smell of some rat baits and rat poisons. If not directly attracted to rat baits and rat poison, then a rabbit may be at least very curious about the rat poison.
Many rat baits are shaped to entice the rat to gnaw and nibble. Further, some rat poison is manufactured in the form of pellets that often look similar to rabbit pellets.
Why Would Rabbit Eat Rat Poison?
Rat baits are specially made to conceal the smell of active ingredient chemicals and fool the rat into thinking it has found some food.
Rats and mice have a very, very, strong and powerful sense of smell. They can detect very faint smells. As such, modern industrial chemistry has tested and perfected the rat bait so that even the very sensitive nose of the rat does not detect the poison in the rat bait.
If the rat’s nose is fooled, then the rabbit’s nose may also be fooled. Similarly, the bait is specially made so that the rat does not taste (smell being a large contributor to taste) the poison ingredients.
A curious rabbit may also gnaw and nibble on a rat bait “block” or rat poison pellets.
Will Rat Poison Pellets Kill Rabbits?
Yes, the rat poison pellets will kill a rabbit that eats some pellets. The rat poison pellets are just as deadly as the poison in block or chunk form.
How Much Rat Poison Does It Take To Kill A Rabbit.
The quick answer is: it does not take much rat poison to kill a rabbit. Whatever kills a rat will very likely also kill a rabbit.
Even though a rabbit may weigh 2 to 4 times as much as a rat, the lethal dose for a rat will very likely also kill a rabbit.
Will Rat Poison Kill Wild Rabbits?
Yes, as noted above, rat poison will kill just about any animal that eats it. Rat poison will certainly kill any animal that we typically find at or near a hobby farm or homestead.
Can Rabbits Get Into Rat Bait Stations?
Yes, by gnawing at the bait station a rabbit could very likely chew into the rat poison bait station.
Using a bait station does present a lower risk for poisoning rabbits, dogs, children and anything larger than a rat. However, poison bait stations should still be used only with great care and vigilance.
This video discusses the most common active ingredients in rat poison baits.
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Good Tips If You Choose To Use Rat And Mouse Baits
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This Video includes the average cost of a veterinarian visit if your rabbit ate poison.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To
Will Rat Bait Kill Rabbits
Other Risks Associated With Rat Poison and Rabbits
Some rat and mouse baits are packaged in small paper bags; similar to a pack of fruit chews or a granola bar.
The small bags allow people to toss or place the bags in hard to reach places, like inside the rat hole in the barn.
The rat or mouse needs to gnaw through the paper to reach and consume some of the bait. This allows the person that placed the bait bags to see if the bag has been chewed and the bait accessed.
Alternatively, the rat or mouse may drag the bait bag out of sight or into an area that is accessible to other animals that you are trying to protect, not kill.
For example, the rat may drag the bait bag to an area where your hens can access it and then chew it open and unknowingly leave some bait for your hens… or your dog… or heaven forbid your young children!
Secondary poisoning is another large risk when using rat bait. When a dead or sick rat is eaten by a predator or scavenger the poison in the dead or sick rat may also poison the predator or scavenger.
How Do I Get Rid Of Rats Without Harming My Rabbits?
Well that is a whole other discussion. But, here are a few ideas.
- Barn Cats: We use barn cats in lieu of poison. The cats are very effective.
A good mouser is a huge deterrent for rats and mice.
They fear a good mouser and quickly go elsewhere, to an easier situation.
I note that the local foxes and coyotes can be pretty hard on barn cats.
If your cats are not having kittens, then one of your neighbor’s cats usually are; and the cycle of life continues.
- Traps: We have also used plenty of mouse traps and some rat traps.
The rat traps we use are just larger mouse traps. I’m referring to the classic spring loaded trap with a baited trigger. Say Cheese!
I feel much better about using traps in lieu of poison.
I can literally nail down the traps in the rafters or in a corner behind a large object, where my other pets and children can not reach.
- Metal Garbage Cans for Rabbit Feed: This one is a helpful deterrent.
For storing rabbit feed, chicken feed, sweet feed, etc we’ve used the classic galvanized metal garbage (with lid) for many years.
They are a very good solution for daily feeds.
What Is The Active Ingredient In Rat Poison?
There are several types of active ingredients or poisons that are carefully mixed into substances that temp rats and mice to devour them. These substances are manufactured and sold as rat poison.
The most common active ingredients being sold as rat poison are anticoagulants. The anticoagulants thin the rat’s blood and blood vessels to the point where the rat develops internal bleeding and bleeds to death.
“Chlorpophacinone, diphacinone and warfarin are first-generation anticoagulants that are registered to control rats and mice in the United States”
Zinc Phosphide: is another poison that is commercially produced and sold to kill rodents. After being eaten it is converted to phosphine gas in the body, is absorbed into the bloodstream by the stomach and intestines, and gets filtered by the liver and kidneys.
It quickly manifests as toxic to the body causing various mortal damage to the circulatory system and the heart. Here is a great Fact Sheet about poison Phosphide.
Cholecalciferol: when ingested produces a very high calcium blood level, or hypercalcemia. This quickly results in severe soft tissue calcification or mineralization; causing failure of kidneys, lungs, heart and often GI tract. It is fatal within 2 -3 days after eating, there is no antidote, and it is very hard to treat. It is very dangerous.
Will My Rabbit Eat Or Nibble On A Dead Rat?
It is very unlikely that your rabbit or bunny will eat or nibble on a dead rat. Healthy rabbits are not carnivorous, except in extreme foraging conditions.
Final Thoughts On Will Rat Poison Kill Rabbits
There is no doubt that commercial rat poison will kill a curious rabbit that nibbles on it.
If you can figure out that your rabbit had access to rat poison and may have ingested some, then you should immediately call your veterinarian’s emergency line. If eaten, then rat poison is life threatening to any and all animals, pets and children that we typically have at our hobby farms, homesteads. and “small holdings”.
The use of rat poison near your rabbits or on your hobby farm is a serious matter as secondary poisoning may result when using rat baits. If not used with vigilance, then unintended consequences of rat poisons may be dire and life changing for your family.
Protect your family and domestic rabbits – dont use rat poisons!