What is the primary way non-anticoagulants kill rodents?

The primary way non-anticoagulants kill rodents is by disrupting metabolic functions. Non-anticoagulant rodenticides are designed to interfere with essential metabolic processes in the rodent's body, leading to death through mechanisms such as inhibiting the synthesis of crucial enzymes or disrupting energy production. This type of rodenticide typically acts quickly, causing the rodent to experience metabolic failure as it cannot maintain normal physiological functions.

While other options like affecting the nervous system or causing internal bleeding do describe mechanisms for some toxins, they do not accurately capture the primary action of non-anticoagulant rodenticides. By contrast, anticoagulant poisons primarily work by causing internal bleeding due to interference with blood clotting. Therefore, understanding that non-anticoagulants primarily disrupt metabolism helps clarify their unique mode of action compared to other rodenticides.