How do rodents ingest rodenticide tracking powder?

Rodents primarily ingest rodenticide tracking powder by picking it up on their feet. This method of ingestion relies on the rodent's natural behavior of grooming themselves. When rodents walk through an area where tracking powder has been applied, they inadvertently collect the powder on their feet and fur. During grooming, they then consume the powder, which leads to the intended rodenticide effects.

This method is effective because it takes advantage of the rodents' frequent self-grooming habits, ensuring that the poison is ingested without the need for them to directly consume bait from bait stations or other sources. This behavior makes it a particularly stealthy way to control rodent populations, as the rodents do not need to be lured to a bait site, which can minimize the chances of scavengers also accessing the poison.

The other methods, such as eating the powder directly from bait stations, drinking water tainted with the powder, or inhaling it from the air, do not accurately represent the typical behavior of rodents or how they interact with rodenticide tracking powders. Rodenticide is typically formulated to be less effective in these forms, ensuring the target species is effectively controlled using the most appropriate and behavioral-responsive method.