Second‑Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides

BirdLife Australia are closer than ever to ending the public sale of bird-killing rat poisons in Australia. But this win is not yet locked in.

After years of pressure from BirdLife Australia and supporters like you, the Federal regulator has recommended that the most dangerous rat poisons, second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) be removed from public sale. They’ve finally formally recognised that these poisons pose an ‘unacceptable risk to wildlife’.

This is a major breakthrough.

Now BirdLife Australia need your help to finish the job and save our birds.

SGARs don’t just kill rats and mice; they poison entire food chains. Despite what the ‘fast-action’ labels say, these poisons act slowly, allowing rodents to wander around for weeks as easy prey. These poisons stay active in animal bodies for months or even years, bioaccumulating in predators that consume poisoned animals. Owls, raptors, frogs, snakes, lizards, quolls, native mammals, and even pets are all at great risk. Every delay in taking these products off the shelves will mean more unnecessary death of wildlife.

Many supporters have asked for clarity, so here’s what you need to know.

Are SGARs really worse than other rat poisons?

​Yes. SGARs are chemically designed to be long‑lasting and potent in a single feed. Some have a half‑life of up to 350 days, meaning 25% of the poison is still in its active form 2 years later, even inside living animals. This is why this class of rat poisons travels up the food chain for years. First‑generation products break down much faster and are far less likely to cause secondary poisoning.

Won’t banning SGARs make rat control impossible?

​No. Safer alternatives exist, and poisons should always be a last resort. Healthy habitat and natural predators are the heroes here. One barn owl can consume up to 100 mice in 1 month. Many other countries around the world such as Canada, USA, and the EU banned SGARs many years ago, and Australia is decades late in joining this critical movement. Removing SGARs from public sale doesn’t end rodent control; it makes it safer for wildlife.

What now?

As Australia transitions away from these poisons, many people are discovering unused SGAR products at home.

⚠️ Please don’t put them in your bin.

​SGARs remain active for long periods, and rats can access rubbish, in effect sending us straight back to square one. 

✅ Instead: contact your local council about chemical or poison disposal options, use council clean up days and drop off services, or (in Victoria) programs like Detox Your Home, via sustainability Victoria which accept rat bait specifically. Safe disposal is a simple but powerful way to stop these poisons from entering the food chain and doing their damage.

Momentum is on our side. The regulator has listened. Bunnings has committed to removing SGARs early. Public awareness is growing. But these products can still be sold until at least March 2027, and possibly beyond unless governments act now.

We all know collective action makes all the difference.

We are so close to protecting owls, raptors and countless other species from these dangerous poisons.

Here are 4 easy steps you can take to save our birds:

1. Email decision makers and urge them to lock in the ban
2. Dispose of SGARs safely and share the facts with your community
3. Forward this email to your friends and family, to help share this message far and wide.
4. Learn how to control rodents safely without harming wildlife.

A future without wildlife-killing rat poisons is within reach, but only if we take the final steps together.