AbstractThe palatability to captive, mostly laboratory‐bred, Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) of cereal‐based baits containing 0.02 g kg−1 brodifacoum, with and without bird‐repellent additives, was compared in a no‐choice experimental design. Methyl anthranilate (25 g kg−1), dimethyl anthranilate (25 g kg−1) and cinnamamide (2.5 g kg−1) reduced bait consumption by the rats, but all except one rat ate enough bait to receive a lethal dose. Cinnamamide (1 g kg−1), ortho‐aminoacetophenone (0.1 g kg−1) and tannic acid (20 g kg−1) did not reduce bait consumption and all rats died after eating baits. The concentration of cinnamamide palatable to rats has only a low and short‐lived repellency to birds, so it does not warrant further investigation. However, ortho‐aminoacetophenone and tannic acid should now be field‐tested for palatability to all three rat species in New Zealand and for repellency to native New Zealand birds.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry