Palatability and efficacy of rodent baits for eradicating house mice (Mus musculus) from Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha

House mice on Gough Island exhibit high palatability for rodent baits, with Pestoff® 20M and 20R showing the greatest consumption. The study found that brodifacoum, an anticoagulant toxin, is effective against these mice, with an estimated oral LD50 of 0.44 mg kg–1 and a median time to death of 5.5 days, comparable to other populations. However, some mice showed resistance at higher doses, emphasizing the need for multiple bait applications in eradication efforts to ensure mortality. The research tested three non-toxic and two toxic bait formulations under controlled conditions, providing critical data for designing successful mouse eradication strategies on Gough Island.

Cuthbert, R. J., Visser, P., Louw, H., & Ryan, P. G. (2011). Palatability and efficacy of rodent baits for eradicating house mice (Mus musculus) from Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha. Wildlife Research, 38(3), 196–203. https://doi.org/10.1071/wr11016