How do anticoagulant baits typically affect their target?

Anticoagulant baits are designed to disrupt the normal blood coagulation process in their target species, typically rodents. These baits contain compounds that interfere with the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver, leading to the inability of the blood to clot correctly. As a result, when an animal consumes an anticoagulant bait, it experiences internal bleeding, which can ultimately be fatal. This internal bleeding occurs because the blood vessels can rupture without the necessary clotting response to stop the bleeding.

The mechanism of action of anticoagulant baits means that they do not cause external bleeding or create aversions to food, nor do they primarily impact motor function. Instead, their primary effect is much more insidious, as they lead to a gradual and often unnoticeable internal hemorrhage until the animal is significantly weakened or succumbs to the effects of blood loss. This characteristic makes them effective for use in pest control, particularly in managing rodent populations.