What attracts rats to poison?

What attracts rats to poison is not the poison itself but the bait formulation that surrounds the toxic active ingredient, which is designed to smell and taste like food that rats love. Commercial rat poisons, known as rodenticides, contain a small amount of poison like brodifacoum, bromadiolone, or cholecalciferol mixed into a palatable bait made from grains, seeds, fats, sugars, and flavorings that mimic attractive foods such as peanut butter, bacon, chocolate, and cereals. Manufacturers add ingredients like wheat, oats, and oils to make the bait smell appealing and encourage rats to eat it despite their natural neophobia and caution about new foods. Some baits are made into wax blocks, pellets, or soft pastes that are weather resistant and have strong aromas. Rats are also attracted to bait stations that are placed along their runways where they already travel, as placement matters as much as smell. However, rats are cautious and may take a few days to accept new bait, a behavior called bait shyness, especially if they have had a bad experience before. To increase acceptance, professionals pre-bait with non-toxic food first, then switch to poison bait. It is important to use poison only in tamper-resistant bait stations to protect children, pets, and wildlife, as the attractive smell can also attract non-target animals.