Setting out poison called rodenticides for pests, e.g. to control rats feeding on grain or grass seed in your back shed, will probably kill the rats but will also kill other beneficial mammals like opossums, squirrels, mice, voles, or racoons who may find the poison. And further, a beautiful fox, crow, raptor, or vulture who finds the poisoned rat, mouse, or vole, may eat it, and be poisoned in turn. Prey taken home to a nest of baby owls could kill the whole family. No system is truly a closed one and unintended outcomes can devastate a healthy habitat.
The best alternative to poisons is to securely store the food source of the pest mammal, seal access points, move sheltering materials away from your building, and provide a healthy habitat where natural predators can fulfill their roles.
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