Which type of muskrat bait is often made with paraffin mixed with grain and pesticide and placed in burrows or floating bait boxes?

• A. Anticoagulant baits
• B. Zinc phosphide baits
• C. Carbon tetrachloride baits
• D. Nicotinic acid bait

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how muskrat baits are formulated and deployed in wetlands. Wax-coated grain blocks containing an anticoagulant toxin are a classic approach because the paraffin helps the bait stay intact and palatable in damp burrow interiors or in floating bait boxes on the water. The anticoagulant works gradually, requiring the muskrat to ingest multiple feeds over several days, which fits the animal’s feeding behavior in aquatic habitats. This combination—paraffin-coated grain blocks with an anticoagulant placed in burrows or floating bait stations—is why anticoagulant baits are the correct choice. Other toxins listed are not typically prepared as paraffin-grain blocks for muskrats in those locations (they tend to be fast-acting or outdated formulations).