AUTHOR=Topping Christopher J. , Elmeros Morten TITLE=Modeling Exposure of Mammalian Predators to Anticoagulant Rodenticides JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science VOLUME=4 YEAR=2016 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2016.00080 DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2016.00080 ISSN=2296-665X ABSTRACT=
Anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) are a widespread and effective method of rodent control but there is concern about the impact these may have on non-target organisms, in particular secondary poisoning of rodent predators. Incidence and concentration of AR in free-living predators in Denmark is very high. We postulate that this is caused by widespread exposure due to widespread use of AR in Denmark in and around buildings. To investigate this theory a spatio-temporal model of AR use and mammalian predator distribution was created. This model was supported by data from an experimental study of mice as vectors of AR, and was used to evaluate likely impacts of restrictions imposed on AR use in Denmark banning the use of rodenticides for plant protection in woodlands and tree-crops. The model uses input based on frequencies and timings of baiting for rodent control for urban, rural and woodland locations and creates an exposure map based on spatio-temporal modeling of movement of mice-vectored AR (based on