Make Rat Poison
Commercial rat poisons are effective, but they also contain toxic chemicals that pose a risk to humans and domestic animals. Read this article to learn how to make homemade rat poison that is much safer for home use.
Contents
10 Second Summary
1. Mix together equal amounts of flour, sugar, and baking soda in a bowl.
2. Pour the mixture into shallow containers.
3. Place the containers where the rats can reach them.
4. Wait 1 day.
5. Check the containers and search for the rats.
Steps
Plaster of Paris, Cornmeal and Milk
- Mix a 1/4 pound (113 g) of plaster of Paris with 1/4 pound (113 g) of cornmeal in a large bowl.
- Plaster of Paris can be bought at most craft stores and hardware stores. It is a dry powder made of gypsum that, when mixed with a liquid, thickens and eventually hardens.
- Add 1–2 cups (0.2 L to 0.47 L) of milk.
- You can add more milk if clumps of the cornmeal or plaster of Paris are still dry.
- Use your hands to knead the mixture into dough.
- Break off 1–2 inch (2.54 to 5.08 cm) chunks of the dough and roll into balls.
- Place the balls behind the fridge, inside cupboards, under the stove, or anywhere else the rats might be hiding.
- Wait a few days and check the balls to see if they've been chewed by the rats.
- If they have not been touched, you will need to make another batch of the poison and place the balls elsewhere. The plaster of Paris will have hardened to an inedible degree by this time.
Flour, Sugar and Baking Soda
- Mix 1 cup (128 g) of flour, 1 cup (201 g) of sugar and 1 cup (128 g) of baking soda in a large bowl.
- Place the dry mixture into shallow containers such as a plastic cup make sure the rodent can reach it
- Wait a day and check the cans.
- The bicarbonate of the baking soda reacts with the rat's stomach acids to produce a carbon dioxide gas. Rats are unable to pass gas. The gas will build up in the rat's system and eventually cause internal blockage or rupture.
Plaster of Paris and Instant Potatoes
- Mix 1 package of instant potatoes and 1 cup (230 g) of plaster of Paris in a large bowl.
- Add a dash of cinnamon to the mixture.
- Add 1 cup (.23 L) of water to the mixing bowl.
- Stir the concoction and pour it into small bowls or emptied tins.
- Place the bowls inside rat holes and in other hiding locations.
Tips
- Add a dab of peanut butter on top of the poison to attract the rats more quickly.
Warnings
- Make sure to find the dead rats—a decomposing animal carcass can stink up the house for months, and is potentially hazardous, too.
- Wash out your mixing bowls thoroughly and disinfect them following this use.
- Do not place rat poison where pets or children can get to it. Even though homemade rat poison is less toxic than that made of strong chemicals, it can still be dangerous.
Things You'll Need
- Plaster of Paris
- Cornmeal
- Milk
- Mixing bowl
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Empty tuna fish can
- Instant potatoes
- Water
- Small bowls or tins such as empty tuna fish cans
- Cinnamon (powdered)
- Peanut butter (optional)
