7 Best Squirrel Poisons – How to Kill them Effectively

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

Squirrels may be very cute and some people can spend hours trying to catch one in action between tree branches. But, whether you like it or not, in some parts, having one of the best squirrel poisons stored safely in your garage or shed is one of the best moves you can make.

Squirrels, when let to their own devices, can quickly cause a world of hurt to one’s property, from the land, to roof damage, car damage, destroyed gardens, and so on. A poison may not be the most humane solution, but it’s a quick and mess-free way of dealing with large rodent populations on your land.

7 Best Squirrel Poisons - Eliminate the Problem

The Bell Contrac Blox is one of the best squirrel poisons you can use if you have a serious infestation. This poison comes in 4 x 4lbs and 18lbs containers and features a formula made from bromadiolone as well as a few food-grade ingredients for a superior broadcasting range and increased palatability.

What makes this particular blend so popular is the fact that it’s less toxic than others. Although still potent and able to kill squirrels in a few days after ingesting, it’s not as toxic to other non-target animals.

That being said, I still advise using the Bell Contrac Blox with dedicated tamper-proof bait stations just to be extra safe. Another cool thing is that these aren’t multi feed bait chunks. A single feeding is enough to deliver a deadly dose to rodents.

Due to the potency and combination of ingredients, the Contrac Blox cannot be used in the state of California. Finally, these bait chunks have pretty good weather resistance all-year-round.

  • Single feed poison
  • Superior weather resistance
  • Food-grade ingredients
  • Reliable against warfarin-resistant rodents
  • Not available in California

The Farnam formula comes in the form of 2oz bait chunks capable of enticing even the largest of squirrels and other rodents. Each container comes with 8lbs worth of bait chunks which should be more than enough for large residential properties and agricultural buildings.

The main active ingredient in this poison is bromadiolone. This is a good thing if you have warfarin-resistant squirrels or rats on your property. It has the same effect, inhibiting the production of vitamin K1 and causing death in up to four days of ingesting a lethal dose.

Although the bait chunks are quite large, they have a slightly softer texture which should help even smaller rodents nibble on them easily. What’s even better, in my opinion, is that the chunks have nibble ridges in their texture.

However, you should know that this poison can’t be sold or used in California and Minnesota, due to its composition.

  • Nibble ridges on bait chunks
  • Airtight container lid
  • Bromadiolone-based poison
  • Softer texture
  • Not available in CA and MN

The JT Eaton 709-PN Rodenticide is a diphacinone-based poison. It will stop the blood clotting process in rodents, but it’s also a multiple feeding rodenticide which means it might take a while before it works. Very small squirrels will die faster, but adults will take more time.

Each bucket of JT Eaton 709 has 144 pellets weighing one ounce each. The formula is peanut butter-flavored which will make it very appealing to squirrels and other rodents. The scent is powerful too, at least powerful enough to attract rodents from a distance.

Because of its flavor, getting squirrels, rats, or mice to take multiple bites shouldn’t be an issue. This is especially true when using in the early spring or during the winter. That’s because those are the periods with fewer natural food sources available to squirrels.

Although the bait blocks still require multiple feedings, the size of each bait block is considerable. And given the amount you get, it’s quite an inexpensive solution for a first generation diphacinone-based formula.

  • Affordable
  • 144 bait blocks
  • Peanut butter flavor
  • Easy to use
  • Not the fastest-acting poison

Another Bell special is the Bell Final Blocks Rodenticide. These bait chunks were developed to address larger rodents such as adult squirrels. The baits are bigger, longer, and have superior moisture resistance as well as good mold resistance.

This should allow you to use them during any season, including rainy periods of spring and autumn. Although they may not be the most palatable bait briquettes, the poison in them is very potent. The formula is brodifacoum-based which makes this a second generation rodenticide.

The potency against resilient squirrels and rats is impressive and in my opinion worth the premium fee. The red color of the briquettes also helps make the baits more enticing as well as easier to spot when scattered around the property, as opposed to the traditional green bait chunks.

I also like that it shouldn’t take more than three to four days for the poison to work after a single feeding.

  • Fast-acting formula
  • Second generation anticoagulant
  • Increased visibility
  • Will target warfarin-resistant rodents
  • Slightly pricey

I find that the JT Eaton 750 Top Gun Rodenticide has a very good price to performance ratio. Each container has about 128 bait pails that have been designed to dispose of rats, mice, squirrels, gophers and other rodents in up to two days after ingesting.

The main active ingredient of choice is bromethalin, which is a good choice as it can easily help dispose of warfarin-resistant rodents. Bitrex is also included to help keep the kids away from the pails.

The JT Eaton 750 Top Gun has good weather resistance and you might not always have to put these bait chunks in bait stations. However, if you’re experiencing a particularly rainy autumn, then bait stations will be required.

What’s also interesting is that there’s little product waste. Even though this is a multi feed formula, the rodents will stop feeling the need to feed once they’ve ingested a lethal dose of poison. Thus, you may not need that many chunks to deal with large squirrel populations.

  • Stop feed formula
  • 128 bait blocks
  • Fast acting poison
  • Deters children consumption
  • Peanut butter flavor may attract insects too

The Ramik 116300 diphacinone-based rodenticide comes in the form of half-inch nuggets. This is a first generation anticoagulant that may take up to four or five days until it disposes of all squirrels that nibbled on the baits.

Although not very fast-acting, the nuggets are highly palatable. They’re not made with your traditional wax which makes them more appealing to rodents. The weather resistance of the nuggets is surprisingly good, though not entirely unexpected given the price tag.

Interestingly enough, the nuggets are not sweet or flavored with the classic peanut butter flavor. Instead, these are fish-flavored nuggets that have a wide broadcasting range, meaning they can attract squirrels from very far away.

As long as your area doesn’t get a lot of heavy rain you should be able to spread the pellets on your property even without bait stations. However, using dedicated bait stations is always preferred.

  • Good weather resistance
  • Highly palatable
  • Good value for money
  • Superior quality container seal
  • Smaller squirrels can have trouble breaking up the baits

The Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx contains a hefty dose of diphacinone. This means that the formula is not the fastest-acting, though it is very reliable. Each airtight container holds around 4lbs of green, lightly textured bait briquettes.

Although they have decent weather and mold resistance, the Tomcat Bait Chunx will work better when used inside bait stations. Hence the channel drilled in the middle that allows the briquettes to be stabilized inside a bait station.

These briquettes should be compatible with other bait stations, not just Tomcat bait stations. The formula contains some food-grade ingredients too in order to be more palatable and be more attractive to both young and adult rodents.

  • Contains food-grade ingredients
  • Textured easy-to-eat briquettes
  • Can be secured inside bait stations
  • Affordable
  • Low visibility in grass

What Are Squirrel Poisons Like?

Squirrel poisons are made of one of four main active ingredients – warfarin, diphacinone, brodifacoum, and bromadiolone. All these compounds essentially do the same thing, albeit at different rates.

Each compound mentioned is an anticoagulant. This means that it strips the rodent’s body of its ability to recycle vitamin K. Without enough vitamin K, rodents eventually succumb to internal blood loss due to the body’s inability to clot the blood.

Although warfarin was among the first anticoagulants to be used for rodent control purposes, it is now among the least used in commercial-grade rodenticides. The reason is simple. Over the years, rodents have developed a resistance to warfarin-based products.

Understanding Single Feed and Multi Feed Poisons

These two terms are part of pest control jargon and have self-explanatory names. Single feed poisons are poisons that are very potent and that can deliver a lethal dose of poison in a single feeding session.

Multi feed poisons require the rodents to have multiple servings of bait chunks before they get a lethal dose. Some multi feed poisons also induce what’s known as a stop feed effect which will prevent a dosed rodent from coming back for more helpings of the bait.

This is great when it works since it can prevent product loss. Some rodents, even though infected with a lethal dose of poison, may still have a big enough of an appetite that they’ll keep nibbling away on the bait chunks until they drop dead.

Depending on the time of year, some poisons will be more efficient than others. Take single feed poisons for example. They’ll yield the best results if used between late spring and mid-fall. That’s because during this period there should be plenty of natural food around for squirrels to eat.

Commonly Used Flavors

The most common flavoring found in rodenticides is peanut butter. It makes sense since a lot of rodenticides are actually designed to work against rats and mice primarily, and not squirrels. But don’t think that other protein-flavored bait chunks won’t also do the trick.

What’s more important is to determine whether or not sweet flavoring can attract a wide range of insects too. Not all bait chunks repel insects or react well to an insect invasion. It’s possible to lose a lot of the product if you spread the bait chunks around your property that’s also infested with ants and roaches.

Texturing, Size, and Color

Often times, the size and shape of the bait chunks are just as important as the ingredients used in the formula. Some bait chunks contain grooves or what’s known as bite texturing. These can be very useful when dealing with mice or a very young squirrel population.

The grooves or light texturing can make the bait chunks or briquettes much easier to bite for the younger rodents.

Last but not least, the color is something equally important even though it may not seem this way at first. Most squirrel rodentcide briquettes or pellets are green. Even though most people use them inside bait stations, they can still get lost in the field of view.

I’ve found that changing the color after a while breathes new life into rodentcide briquettes and makes them more attractive to squirrels, rats, mice, and other rodents. Red is a good choice as it’s easy to spot and looks a lot like fruit.

Deal with Your Rodents Quickly and Efficiently

As you can see, there aren’t that many differences between the various best squirrel poisons on the market. But, I have learned that the difference can be made by the tiniest of details, such as color, size, texture, ingredients, and so on.

Now that you know what to expect from each commonly used active ingredient, as well as the various other properties of squirrel poisons, you should be able to pick the right bait chunks for your home. Just make sure you have some bait stations on hand too, if your property is also roaming with pets and kids.

20 thoughts on “7 Best Squirrel Poisons – How to Kill them Effectively”

  1. Hi Jared, will the squirrels die IN my attic or outside after using the poison? They are everywhere and wake me up daily running around up there.

    Reply
  2. My concern is not that dogs might get the bait, but what if they find a dead or dying squirrel. Will consuming a sick or dead squirrel harm a dog?

    Reply
  3. I have lots of trees in my backyard and the squirrels have begun living in my attic; I’ve done the traps and contracted with a professional service. At this point after a few years, I want to make sure they are good and gone. How do I put out the poison? Do I scatter it in my yard? Should I put it out at night so they can’t see my put it out? They are very smart and I want to outsmart them.

    Reply
  4. Hi I have a squirrel problem I have them in my attic and ripping up my garden
    I have 3 cats what’s best to use and is safe around my cats please

    Reply
  5. Jared I just saw the craziest thing. I mistakenly thought rat traps would kill squirrels – Wrong. I watched one squirrel walk away with the trap on its neck and remove it! I watched another stand on top of the active rat trap and eat the bait! The moral is buy poison.

    Reply
  6. I bought Tomcat rat poison with Diphenadione. I thought I had mice in the attic. But seems the squirrels around my house have turned crazy and are running up and down my deck and to the roof. I suspect it’s them making sounds. Will the Tomcat get rid of the squirrels too?

    Reply
  7. Do you know the application ratio or do you just put it out and the squirrels with find it? The Ramkit comes in small packages, is that enough to poison one squirrel?

    Reply
  8. Hi Jared, please help me!! I live in Southern California and I have a big squirrel problem. They are eating all my flowers and vegetables. I’ve read your wonderful article but I’m confused!! I tried Ramon and it didn’t do anything. I can get any one of the pesticides. Please tell me which is the STRONGEST!!!!

    Reply

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