When it comes to rodent control Canada can rely on, the name Motomco stands out for its effective rat bait and mice bait products. Motomco is a renowned brand in rodent control with decades of experience formulating baits that help keep rat and mouse populations in check. In this blog post, we’ll explore Motomco’s history and reputation, and provide an in-depth look at their key rodenticide lines – Tomcat, Hawk, Jaguar, and Rampage – highlighting what makes each product unique. Whether you’re a homeowner dealing with a mouse issue or a farmer battling stubborn rats, understanding these bait lines will help you choose the right solution for effective rodent control in Canada.
Motomco – A Trusted Name in Rodent Control
Motomco’s roots go back over 40 years as part of Bell Laboratories, a pioneer in pest control founded in 1974. From its early days (starting with the original “Rodent Cake” product) to today, Motomco has built a strong reputation in the industry. The company produces a complete line of rodent control products – including rodenticides (rat poisons), tamper-resistant bait stations, traps, and more – which are sold on six continents. This extensive reach speaks to Motomco’s credibility and performance. Over the years, Motomco’s scientists and engineers have continued to innovate, developing new formulations to meet the evolving needs of pest control and agricultural markets.
One reason for Motomco’s strong reputation is its commitment to quality and efficacy. Uniquely, Motomco (via Bell Labs) synthesizes its own active ingredients for baits, maintaining full control over purity and consistency. In fact, Bell Laboratories has registered more rodenticide products with the U.S. EPA than any other manufacturer – a testament to their expertise. Motomco’s baits are known for being palatable to rodents (often made with food-grade ingredients to ensure rodents readily eat them) while also holding up in various environments (many are labeled “all-weather” baits). For Canadian users, Motomco’s long-standing focus on research and quality means these products are trusted by professionals and homeowners alike for safely and effectively dealing with rodent infestations. (All Motomco rodenticides discussed here are registered for use in Canada, meeting Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency standards for safety and effectiveness.)
Motomco’s Rodenticide Lines: An Overview
Motomco offers several rodenticide bait lines, each formulated with different active ingredients and suited to particular situations. The Tomcat, Hawk, Jaguar, and Rampage product lines are among their most popular and high-performing baits. All are designed to kill rats and mice, but they differ in how they work – for example, whether the rodent needs to feed multiple times or just once to receive a lethal dose (multi-feed vs. single-feed), and what type of poison is used (anticoagulant vs. non-anticoagulant). Below, we break down each of these Motomco bait lines, explaining their key features, target uses, and differences:
Tomcat – A multi-feed anticoagulant bait (first-generation) known for reliability in everyday rodent control.
Hawk – A single-feed anticoagulant bait (second-generation) that can take out warfarin-resistant rats with one feeding.
Jaguar – A single-feed anticoagulant bait (second-generation) and Motomco’s most potent formula for professional-strength rodent control.
Rampage – A single-feed acute bait (non-anticoagulant) using Bromethalin, prized for its fast kill and effectiveness against even anticoagulant-resistant rodents.
In the sections that follow, we’ll look at each of these in detail. Keep in mind that all these baits are formulated as “All-Weather” bait blocks or pellets, meaning they are moisture and mold resistant for use both indoors and outdoors – an important factor for Canadian climates with rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures.
Tomcat – Multi-Feed Bait for Everyday Rodent Control
Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx (4.1 kg) bucket — a multi-feed rodent bait from Motomco. The Tomcat bait line is one of Motomco’s flagship products, widely used in farms, homes, and businesses. Tomcat baits are formulated with the first-generation anticoagulant diphacinone, which means rodents usually need to feed multiple times over a few days to accumulate a lethal dose. This makes Tomcat an economical choice for everyday control of light to moderate infestations. You might think of it as the workhorse rat/mouse bait for maintenance situations – it’s very effective at dealing with ongoing low-level rodent activity.
Despite requiring multiple feedings, Tomcat is highly effective when used properly. It’s designed with food-grade ingredients to be extremely palatable to rats and mice, ensuring they keep coming back to feed. The bait comes in all-weather blocks (Chunx) that resist moisture and mold, so you can use them in damp areas like barns, crawl spaces or outdoors. Each block has gnawing edges and a hole in the middle, allowing it to be secured on rods inside a bait station (this prevents rodents from dragging the bait away). Once a rodent has consumed enough Tomcat bait over a day or two, death will occur a few days later due to internal bleeding (as is typical for anticoagulant rodenticides).
Tomcat’s active ingredient diphacinone is effective against common species like Norway rats, roof rats, house mice, and even meadow voles. However, it is a bit less potent per dose than newer anticoagulants – which is why it’s categorized as a “multiple-feed” bait. The upside is that diphacinone has been used for decades with great success, and rodents have a low level of aversion to it (they readily accept the bait). In a Canadian context, Tomcat baits are often used around agricultural settings and residential areas where a steady, ongoing rodent control program is needed. For example, a farmer might place Tomcat bait blocks in outbuildings year-round to keep mice in check, or a homeowner might use Tomcat in their garage or attic as a preventive measure.
It’s worth noting that Motomco also offers Tomcat with Bromethalin in some markets – an acute (non-anticoagulant) version of Tomcat that kills faster than the classic diphacinone formula. This Bromethalin bait causes rodents to stop feeding after eating a lethal dose, so a single night’s feeding can deliver control. Bromethalin baits typically kill rodents within 24–36 hours of ingestion. While the Bromethalin-based Tomcat is extremely fast-acting, it’s generally used in specific scenarios (like when you need a quick knockdown of a large population). The diphacinone-based Tomcat, by contrast, remains a staple for routine use because of its proven track record and safety profile.
In summary, Motomco Tomcat is a great all-around rat and mice bait for moderate infestations. It’s best for scenarios where you want an affordable, steady control method and can allow a few days for the bait to take full effect. Think of Tomcat as the go-to choice for maintaining rodent control in typical Canadian home or farm environments, especially when dealing with non-resistant rodent populations.
Hawk – Single-Feed Anticoagulant for Stubborn Rodents
The Hawk rodenticide bait by Motomco is a step up in potency from Tomcat. Hawk uses bromadiolone as its active ingredient – a second-generation anticoagulant that is far more toxic to rodents in a single feeding. In fact, Hawk can kill rats and mice in just one night’s feeding, even though (like all anticoagulants) the rodents will typically die a few days later. This single-feed capability is crucial when dealing with more stubborn rodents or larger infestations. Notably, bromadiolone was developed to control rodents that had grown resistant to first-generation anticoagulants like warfarin. As a result, Hawk is effective against warfarin-resistant “super rats” that might shrug off older poisons.
Hawk bait comes in all-weather Chunx (blocks) that are colored teal/blue and formulated with bromadiolone at 0.005% concentration (a potent dose for rodents). Just like Tomcat, these blocks are designed to be palatable and can be secured in bait stations. The difference is that with Hawk, a rodent can receive a lethal dose from a much smaller feeding. A rat or mouse that feeds on Hawk bait will usually die 4-5 days after eating, but importantly, it likely won’t need to feed on the bait again after the first meal. This makes Hawk very useful in heavy infestations where rodents might not revisit the bait frequently – one good meal is enough.
In practical use, Motomco Hawk is often chosen for larger infestations or critical areas. For example, if a food warehouse or processing facility in Canada has a significant rat problem, a potent single-feed bait like Hawk can knock down the population more efficiently. It’s also used in agricultural settings (like around grain storage or livestock feed areas) where rodents have ample food sources and may not take bait repeatedly – you want each bite to count. Hawk is labeled as “Strong Anticoagulant Bait” and indeed is considered a robust rat bait for tough jobs. It still poses similar risks as other anticoagulants (meaning you must use it in tamper-resistant bait stations and be cautious of potential secondary poisoning of predators/pets), but bromadiolone’s dosage in Hawk is calibrated to minimize those risks while targeting rodents effectively.
To sum up, Hawk provides a stronger punch than Tomcat: it’s a single-feed rat and mice bait ideal for hard-to-control infestations. If you’re facing rodents that seem to eat other baits without effect, or you suspect anticoagulant resistance, Motomco Hawk is a go-to solution. Canadian pest control professionals often include Hawk in their arsenal for situations like infestations in warehouses, food processing plants, or large facilities where quick and decisive rodent control is needed.
Jaguar – Professional-Strength Bait for Severe Infestations
When dealing with the worst of the worst in rodent infestations, Motomco’s Jaguar bait steps up to the challenge. Jaguar contains brodifacoum, which is Motomco’s strongest single-feed anticoagulant. Brodifacoum is a second-generation anticoagulant known for its extreme potency – it can deliver a lethal dose to rodents in just one feeding, even in smaller amounts than bromadiolone. In fact, Jaguar is often regarded as Motomco’s most powerful rodent bait, and it’s very popular among professionals in the agriculture sector. Poultry and swine producers, for instance, often name Jaguar as their #1 choice for cleaning out persistent rodent populations.
Jaguar All-Weather Bait Chunx are formulated with 0.005% brodifacoum and are typically colored red. Like the other baits, they are extruded blocks with multiple gnawing edges and a hole for securing in bait stations. What sets Jaguar apart is how well it performs in areas of high rodent pressure. If you have a barn, grain silo, or feed storage that’s teeming with rats or mice, Jaguar can drastically reduce the population. Even rodents that have survived other poisons will succumb to Jaguar because brodifacoum is effective against anticoagulant-resistant strains as well. Rats and mice may consume a fatal dose of Jaguar bait within a single night of feeding, with the first dead rodents appearing 4-5 days later.
Because Jaguar is so potent, it is generally marketed as a professional or commercial-grade bait. In Canada, products with brodifacoum are often restricted to licensed applicators or specific use areas (for example, around agricultural buildings) due to the risk to wildlife if misused. Jaguar’s label typically notes it is for use in and around agricultural buildings only, which aligns with its heavy-duty use case. The bait’s “Professional Strength” branding is well-earned – this is the bait you use for serious infestations or when other baits have failed. For instance, if a farm has a chronic rat problem that has shrugged off everything else, deploying Jaguar bait chunx in all the hot spots (while following all safety measures) can finally get the situation under control.
Despite its strength, Jaguar is formulated to be highly palatable and weatherable (mold & moisture resistant), so rodents readily eat it even in challenging conditions. Each block’s shape and ingredients are optimized to entice rodents that like to gnaw. This is important because in an infestation, you want the target rats and mice to prefer the bait over other available food. Jaguar succeeds in this by using food-grade ingredients; as a result, bait acceptance is proven and excellent even in environments like farms where other food (grains, feed) is present.
In summary, Motomco Jaguar is the heavy artillery of rodenticides – a single-feed rat bait with the most potent anticoagulant (brodifacoum). It’s best for: severe or persistent infestations, industrial and agricultural settings, and situations where rodents have developed resistance to weaker poisons. If you’re in Canada dealing with an overwhelming rat colony in a barn or an old building, Jaguar might be the solution that finally clears them out. Just remember that with great power comes responsibility: always use Jaguar (and any brodifacoum bait) carefully, in secure bait stations, and according to label directions to minimize risks to non-target animals.
Rampage – Fast-Acting Bait for Rapid Knockdown of Rodents
Finally, we come to Rampage, a Motomco bait line that is quite different from the others. Rampage uses a non-anticoagulant poison called Bromethalin as its active ingredient. Bromethalin is a neurotoxin that works by disrupting the rodents’ nervous system, leading to paralysis and death usually within a couple of days. Because of this mode of action, Rampage is considered an acute rodenticide – it delivers a much faster kill compared to anticoagulants. If you need a rapid reduction in a rodent population, Rampage is the tool for the job. In fact, Rampage can kill rodents 5 times faster than traditional anticoagulant baits, with death often occurring as soon as 1-2 days after a lethal dose is consumed.
Rampage All-Weather Bait comes in formulations like extruded blocks (Chunx), pellets, and place packs. The bait is typically colored purple and contains Bromethalin at a concentration designed to ensure a single feeding is lethal. One key advantage of Bromethalin baits: rodents stop feeding after consuming a lethal dose (because of how the toxin affects them). This means a rat or mouse will eat just enough for it to die and then feel ill and cease eating, which in turn means less bait is wasted on one individual. The remaining bait is available for other rodents in the colony. This “stop-feed” effect makes Rampage very efficient in knocking down heavy infestations – many rodents can be killed with relatively small amounts of bait, as each one eats only until it’s affected.
Motomco markets Rampage as an excellent choice for severe infestations and resistant rodent populations. Because Bromethalin is a completely different class of rodenticide, it can kill rats and mice that might be resistant to anticoagulants (for example, those “super rats” that don’t die from bromadiolone or brodifacoum). Rampage is often used as a rotation bait in biosecurity programs – pest control professionals might use anticoagulants most of the year but switch to Rampage for a period (say, a couple of months) to eliminate any rodents that survived the anticoagulant, thereby preventing resistance buildup. This approach of rotating rodenticide types is recommended in large facilities like poultry or swine farms, where constant baiting is necessary.
Another scenario where Rampage shines is when you need a quick clean-out. Suppose you discover a big rat infestation in a warehouse right before a scheduled audit or inspection – using an acute bait like Rampage can reduce the population rapidly. Likewise, if you’re dealing with rodents in a location with abundant alternative food (making them less likely to ingest enough of an anticoagulant), Bromethalin’s high potency ensures that even a small nibble can be deadly. Rampage baits are all-weather and highly durable (the pellets and blocks are formulated with preservatives to resist heat, moisture, and mold), so they can be used outdoors in wetter areas or placed directly into rodent burrows. In fact, Rampage bulk pellets are often used for burrow baiting around farms – you can drop the pellets right into rat burrow entrances where they’ll find them underground.
From a Canadian perspective, Rampage is a valuable option especially for farms and industrial sites. It’s often sold in larger pails (e.g., a 4 kg or 8 kg pail) to cover extensive baiting programs. While Bromethalin baits might be categorized as commercial-class products, they are indeed used in Canada under proper guidelines. Users must take care because there is no antidote (like vitamin K₁ for anticoagulants) for Bromethalin poisoning – so strict use of bait stations and avoidance of access by non-target animals is critical. The flip side is that Bromethalin has a lower risk of secondary poisoning to predators in some cases, since the toxin dose in a rodent’s body may be lower by the time scavengers consume it (due to the stop-feed effect).
In summary, Motomco Rampage is the go-to fast-acting rat bait for rapid results. It’s best for: severe infestations, especially where rodents need to be knocked down quickly or may not be responding to anticoagulant baits. By killing rats and mice in as little as 2 days and reducing how much they feed, Rampage can swiftly curtail a burgeoning rodent population. It is an excellent tool in a comprehensive rodent control program in Canada, particularly for agricultural operations that practice bait rotation as part of their rodent management strategy.
Choosing the Right Motomco Bait: Key Differences
As we’ve seen, each Motomco product line has its own strengths. Here’s a quick recap of the key differences between Tomcat, Hawk, Jaguar, and Rampage baits:
Tomcat – Contains diphacinone (a first-gen anticoagulant). A multiple-feed bait requiring several feedings for a lethal dose. Ideal for light to moderate infestations and ongoing maintenance. This rat & mice bait is valued for its affordability and proven effectiveness in everyday use.
Hawk – Contains bromadiolone (a second-gen anticoagulant). A single-feed bait (one feeding can kill) that targets rats and mice, including warfarin-resistant rodents. Best for larger infestations or “super rats” where a stronger poison is needed. It offers a good balance of high potency with broad usage in and around structures.
Jaguar – Contains brodifacoum (a second-gen anticoagulant). Also single-feed, and is Motomco’s most potent anticoagulant bait. Designed for severe infestations and professional use, especially in agricultural or industrial settings. It provides ultimate stopping power against rodents that are difficult to control, killing with very small amounts consumed.
Rampage – Contains bromethalin (an acute neurotoxin). A single-feed, non-anticoagulant bait that kills rodents faster than any anticoagulant – often within 1-2 days. Perfect for quick knockdowns of rodent populations and for killing anticoagulant-resistant rats and mice. It’s a key choice for high-pressure infestations where speed and rotation of actives are critical (e.g., large farms, warehouses).
All four products are formulated as all-weather bait blocks/pellets for indoor and outdoor use, and they all effectively kill rats and mice – but the choice among them depends on how quickly you need results, whether rodents have shown resistance to other baits, and the scale of your rodent problem.
