I read an artical that said corn meal will kill them, slowly.... but it's not harmful to aminals & kids. Supposedly they can't digest it , so they eat it, and I don't know... die from it expanding in their bellys?????? I tried it in our back yard, I didn't put much out cuz' I didn't want to waste it if it didn't work.... they did haul it into the nest, I'd have to try it agin to say if it worked or not.... It's faster to use Diazinon (sp?) or Mathalizon (sp?)