The essential mechanisms of some common rodenticides are described. With the category of organic agents, these include the anticoagulants, alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU), sodium fluoroacetate (1080), fluoroacetamide (1081), methyl fluoroacetate, strychnine sulfate, red squill, and norbormide. Within the inorganic rodenticides are included zinc phosphide, thallium sulfate, barium carbonate, yellow phosphorus, and arsenic trioxide. The fumigants carbon monoxide, methyl bromide, and hydrogen cyanide are also summarized. Included is brief mention of chemical sterilants, as well as chlorinated insecticides that are toxic to mice.