Phostoxin for Mole, Rabbit and Rat Control

Phostoxin provides an effective alternative to traditional control methods for rabbits, moles and rats. Trapping, shooting and fencing are often used for rabbits and moles, but all are labour intensive. Other chemical methods have been banned and there has been very little in the way of chemical control for these pest species.

• Lack of alternatives, especially for rabbits and moles, has led to an increased reliance on Phostoxin as a leading control method.
• Phostoxin is the only non-anticoagulant poison for the control of rats.

This product is only for the control of rabbits, rats and moles in their burrows.

• Phostoxin should only be used by professional, trained operators.
• Sale is strictly controlled.
• Always read the label, product information and Phostoxin safety data sheet before use.
• Sale is controlled by legislation and requires entry in the Poisons Register.
• It is an offence not to comply.
• Health & Safety is of paramount importance when using Phostoxin.
• Rentokil can provide you with more health & safety information on Phostoxin.
• Contents: approx. 30 x 3g tablets (approx. 90g) per aluminium flask
• Contains Aluminium phosphide.
• Use biocides safely.
• Phostoxin and Phostoxin Applicators are stocked by specialist distributors nationwide.

• Purchasers must have either professional pest control training (for PCOs) or a DEFRA Agricultural Holding (CPH) Number (for professional agricultural use).
• Proof of training in the correct and safe use of aluminium phosphide is required.

It is important to locate the areas in which the moles are “live” before treatment commences. A large number of mole hills gives the impression of many moles working in an area but often there is only one. It is important to recognise that the mole is a solitary animal and its workings are usually distinct from those of neighbouring animals. Walk over the area carefully and decide whether the mole hills form one or more groups of workings. This will tell you how many moles there are.

Remember that even heavy infestations contain only eight to ten moles per acre and in most instances there are fewer.

Within each group of workings (which may cover many square metres), find those mole hills made within the last 24 hours. There will probably be fewer than half-a-dozen. The biggest is not necessarily the most recent.

In dry weather conditions, moles may tunnel deeper in order to find moisture. It is important to realise this when probing for the runs, as those nearer the surface may not be in use; if tablets are inserted into them, the treatment may be ineffective.

Do not attempt to gas the shallow feeding tunnels, since these are rapidly abandoned and are not in permanent use.

As a general rule, gassing treatments against rabbits will be carried out most effectively during the months from October to February. Numbers will then be at their lowest and burrow entrances will be easier to find amongst the sparse vegetation.

Earlier treatments may be required where autumn cereals are being heavily grazed.

Rats that infest farm buildings, poultry sheds and pig houses can often be found living in nearby burrows. Bankings, hedgerows and overgrown vegetation all provide ideal sites for rats to create burrows, from which they can spread to the surrounding buildings.

While gassing is unlikely to provide the complete solution to any rat infestation, it can be a valuable method of reducing the size of a rat population quickly, following which rodenticide baits can be used more effectively to control the remaining population.

Phostoxin gassing tablets contain aluminium phosphide, which reacts with normal atmospheric moisture to liberate phosphine (hydrogen phosphide) gas.

It is not necessary for the tablets to come into contact with wet soil for the chemical reaction to occur. Normal atmospheric moisture alone is sufficient to activate the decomposition process, which produces 1g of phosphine gas from each 3g tablet during complete decomposition.

Aluminium phosphide is a highly toxic substance and the phosphine gas which it liberates is lethal to all animals at low concentrations in the air in nests, warrens and burrows.

Before working with Phostoxin, users must be given Phostoxin training in the use of aluminium phosphide and must obey all the appropriate safety requirements for working with the substance. Always read the product label and Phostoxin Safety Data Sheet before working with Phostoxin.

• Children, domestic and farm animals should be kept away from the treated areas for at least 2 days to prevent any possibility of the tablets being dug up whilst they are active.
• Phostoxin decomposes into a small pile of greyish powder, which has no residual effect on the soil, nor will it in any way harm plant life in the treated area.
• Phostoxin tablets should NOT be used to treat runs or burrows which are within 10 metres of an occupied building.
• Do not attempt to gas the shallow feeding tunnels, since these are rapidly abandoned and are not in permanent use.
• Phostoxin tablets should never be placed or allowed to remain on the ground surface.

• All users of Phostoxin must at first receive the correct and necessary training to ensure all health & safety requirements will be met during treatment.
• Rentokil can provide a list of organisations, who are able to provide this necessary training - we can also provide basic information on how to use Phostoxin correctly.

Please ensure you read the full flask and applicator product labels prior to commencing treatment. For more information about safety, please visit our dedicated Phostoxin - Health & Safety page.

Always use the Phostoxin Applicator for placing Phostoxin tablets in the ground. This will minimise the operator’s risk of exposure to phosphine gas. It is a statutory requirement that such an engineering control be adopted or that suitable respiratory protective equipment be worn when working with Phostoxin tablets.

To use the applicator just press the black button on the applicator which will dispense one tablet into the burrow. All the 30 tablets must be used at the time of treatment and it is an offence not to do so. Use of the Phostoxin Applicator enables the tablets to be placed well inside the burrows.