Common household rat poisons found to pose unacceptable risk to wildlife as animal advocates push for ban

Dead tawny frogmouths and other native animals have been found with rodenticide in their bodies after eating poisoned rats. Photograph: ImagePatch/Getty Images

Commonly available rat poisons pose unacceptable risks to native wildlife, according to a government review that has stopped short of recommending a blanket ban on the products, to the consternation of animal advocates.

The long-awaited review of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides – FGARs and SGARs – has recommended the cancellation of some products, but a large array of waxes, pellets and blocks could continue to be sold to consumers subject to stricter labelling and conditions of use.