Concentrations of anticoagulant rodenticides in stoats Mustela erminea and weasels Mustela nivalis from Denmark

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 409; no. 12; pp. 2373 - 2378
• Main Authors: Elmeros, Morten, Christensen, Thomas Kjær, Lassen, Pia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: 4-Hydroxycoumarins - metabolism; animal injuries; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anticoagulant rodenticides; Anticoagulants; Anticoagulants - metabolism; Applied ecology; Autumn; Biological and medical sciences; body condition; bromadiolone; chemical control; Control rods; death; Denmark; difenacoum; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fitness; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; liver; Liver - metabolism; Male; Mammalia; Mink - metabolism; Mustela erminea; Mustela nivalis; Mustelidae - metabolism; Mustelids; nontarget organisms; poisoning; Predators; Residues; risk; rodent control; Rodenticides - metabolism; Rodents; Sampling method; Seasonal variation; Seasons; Secondary poisoning; Winter; Denmark; Europe; Anticoagulant rodenticides; Secondary poisoning; Seasonal variation; Sampling method; Mustelids; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Mustela erminea; Toxicity; Mustela nivalis; Pesticides; Rodenticide; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Biological accumulation; Non target organism
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.03.006

Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used to control rodent populations but they also pose a risk of secondary poisoning in non-target predators. Studies on anticoagulant rodenticide exposure of non-target species have mainly reported on frequency of occurrence. They have rarely analyzed variations in residue concentrations. We examine the occurrence and concentrations of five anticoagulant rodenticides in liver tissue from 61 stoats ( Mustela erminea) and 69 weasels ( Mustela nivalis) from Denmark. Anticoagulant rodenticides were detected in 97% of stoats and 95% of weasels. 79% of the animals had detectable levels of more than one substance. Difenacoum had the highest prevalence (82% in stoats and 88% in weasels) but bromadiolone was detected in the highest concentrations in both stoat (1.290 μg/g ww) and weasel (1.610 μg/g ww). Anticoagulant rodenticide concentrations were highest during autumn and winter and varied with sampling method. Anticoagulant rodenticide concentrations were higher in stoats and weasels with unknown cause of death than in specimens killed by physical trauma. There was a negative correlation between anticoagulant rodenticide concentrations and body condition. Our results suggest that chemical rodent control in Denmark results in an extensive exposure of non-target species and may adversely affect the fitness of some stoats and weasels. ► Anticoagulant rodenticides were detected in more than 90% of stoats and weasels. ► The highest concentrations were found in animals from autumn and winter. ► Concentrations were highest in animals with unknown cause of death. ► Body condition was negatively correlated with rodenticide concentration. ► Secondary poisoning with rodenticides poses a significant risk to stoats and weasels.