Fluoroacetate residues in ground squirrel and coyote tissues due to primary or secondary 1080 poisoning

Fluoroacetate residues in various tissues of 1080-poisoned ground squirrels and coyotes are listed. The tissues (excluding the stomach) of squirrels poisoned with an average of 0.8 mg 1080/kg (low dose) contained from 182 to 1309 ppb fluoroacetate. In squirrels poisoned with an average of 4.8 mg 1080/kg (high dose), the tissue residues ranged from 535 to 9754 ppb fluoroacetate. Tissues from coyotes which died after consuming 1080-poisoned ground squirrels were also analyzed for fluoroacetate residues. Residues in these coyote kidneys and livers ranged from less than 10 ppb to 95 ppb fluoroacetate. The residue findings in this research indicate that a diagnostic assay for 1080 in tissues must be reliable at 10 ppb (or less) fluoroacetate.