Brodifacoum is very effective in controlling both possums and rats. It has been used in New Zealand since 1992, and is often marketed under the brand name Pestoff.
Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant poison, which is dyed blue in colour, and reduces the clotting power of blood. It can also be used by landowners to undertake possum and rat control on their own land because a user licence is not required.
Because of the delayed effects of this type of poison, rats and possums don’t usually associate poisoning symptoms with eating this bait, which means they don’t learn to avoid it.
Bait stations are placed in bush areas and shelterbelts, approximately 100-300 metres apart for possum control and 25-100 metres apart for rat control.
Safe usage
This toxin, which is dyed blue, is only registered for use in bait stations. To ensure brodifacoum is being used safely:
- Stations must be located out of reach of children, pets and stock
- Warning signs must be erected at all main access points where brodifacoum bait stations are placed
- Store bait in a safe place, away from foodstuffs, children and pets
- Avoid contact with skin
- Wear overalls and waterproof gloves when handling bait
- Avoid contamination of any water supply with baits or empty containers
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while using
- Wash hands and exposed skin after applying bait
Brodifacoum can be purchased from us, and most farm supply stores.
Environmental effects
Brodifacoum is:
- Used in very low concentrations in possum and rat bait
- Not soluble in water and binds strongly to soils – making it almost immobile
- Slowly degradeable in soils with pH5.5 to pH8 under aerobic (oxygenated) or flooded conditions
- Not absorbed by plants
- Only used in bait stations, so it is unlikely to be found in water
- Able to remain in animal meat for a long time, and concentrated in the livers and kidneys. It may present a danger to other species through both secondary and tertiary poisoning
Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800496734
- Email:
- info@gw.govt.nz