The monthslong mission involves distributing by helicopter about 200 tons of rat bait laced with a powerful rodenticide called Brodifacoum that kills them in a period of days.
It also pleaded guilty in Missouri for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) by improperly handling pesticides that had been returned by customers, the Justice Department said in a statement.
To eradicate the thriving possum population (70 million at last count), authorities airdrop carrots laced with sodium monofluoroacetate, a rodenticide banned in the U.S. The poisoned veggies snuff not only possums but also bunnies, deer and household pets.