Rat Bait Stations and How they work

Rats and mice are among the worst pests to infiltrate your property. They multiply quickly, spread diseases, and do a lot of damage to your home or building. Many exterminators and pest control specialists agree that one of the most effective ways to handle these rodents is to set up a rodent bait station.

So how exactly does a rodent bait station work? A bait station is a small, plastic box with an entrance that allows rats and mice to enter. Highly toxic bait called rodenticide is usually placed inside this box so rodents will consume it and die. In cases where the rat or mouse manages to escape, they end up bringing the bait to their nest and share it with others.

What Is A Rodent Bait Station?

A rodent bait station is a container designed to trap rats, mice, and other rodents. These bait stations are usually boxes that can hold solid or liquid bait: grain, seeds, or toxic blocks of rodenticide. You can either build your own bait station from scrap materials or buy a ready-made bait box.

Bait stations need to be tamper-resistant to prevent non-targets such as children and pets from accessing toxic bait. A bait station should also be made of sturdy, solid materials that won’t be knocked out of place or damaged. It’s ideal to anchor a station by nailing it to a surface, staking it to the ground, or securing it onto a support structure.

Many of the bait stations sold commercially also feature an internal system called “baffles”. These baffles are compartments and tunnels that protect the bait from moisture. Baffles also keep the bait from being shaken out or reached by non-targets.

When set up properly, rodent bait stations can be an effective way to reduce a rodent infestation.

How to Set up a Rat Bait Box

Many people prefer to use poisonous rodent bait to resolve infestation problems because exterminating rodents prevent them from multiplying. Unfortunately, young children (usually under the age of six) are at high risk from ingesting rodent poison as well. Over 1,000 children are exposed to rodenticides in the Nigeria every year. This is the reason why you should either build or buy a rodent bait station that is tamper-resistant.

How Can Rodent Bait Stations Be Maximized?

Manufactured rodenticides have high success rates. Usually these baits are unconsumed due to human error. Here are some tips that will help you get optimal results with your bait stations:

Place the bait station where you’re sure rodents pass by. Signs of rodent activity like gnawings, tracks, rub marks, or droppings indicate that you’re close to their nest or food source. These rodent travel routes are the most ideal areas to keep your bait boxes.

Avoid exposing the bait box to afternoon sunshine as this can increase the heat inside the box by 20% - 30%. At this temperature, the bait will melt and the plastic container will quickly become brittle.

Aside from locking, sealing, and concealing the latches, you need to label the bait station with warnings that say “POISON” or “DO NOT TOUCH”. It’s also important to assume that children and pets can still reach the bait box so keep it in a secure and inaccessible place.