Commonly used anticoagulant rodenticides function by causing the target animal severe internal bleeding and a slow, painful death. They also impact other predatory animals such as owls and family pets indirectly if they eat affected animals. RSPCA, WIRES and other animal care organisations discourage use and suggest finding alternatives to this cruel method of killing - so why are they available at all?

More humane poisons could be developed with the right incentives, or there are other, less awful options available. A ban would provide such an incentive, at the same time as eliminating unnecessary cruelty to defenceless creatures and the animals that eat them. For more information: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-kill-pest-rats-and-mice/;​ https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-info/wildlife-factsheets/wildlife-and-pesticides-keeping-native-animals-safe;​ https://www.audubon.org/magazine/january-february-2013/poisons-used-kill-rodents-have-safer