📋 Step-by-Step
1
Choose tamper-resistant stations — required by law outdoors
All outdoor rodenticide use requires EPA-compliant tamper-resistant bait stations (since 2011 regulations). Stations must require a key or tool to open. Never use loose bait outdoors — it's illegal and creates secondary poisoning risk.
2
Place stations along walls, not in open space
Rats and mice travel along walls. Place stations tight against walls or structures, with the entrance holes facing the wall. Rodents are neophobic — they investigate objects against walls during normal travel.
3
Set 8-12 feet apart for mice, 15-30 feet for rats
Mice have small territories (10-30 feet). Rats range further (100-300 feet). Over-spacing stations means some rodents never encounter them.
4
Check every 3-5 days for the first 2 weeks
Heavy bait consumption early is a good sign — it confirms rodents are using the station. Replace consumed bait promptly. Stations that aren't visited within 7 days are in the wrong location.
5
Maintain for 30 days minimum after last activity
Stopping too soon allows survivors to repopulate. Continue until you have 30 consecutive days of zero bait consumption, and rodents signs have disappeared completely.
6
Seal entry points during or after treatment
Bait treatment reduces the population but doesn't prevent re-entry. Find and seal all entry points (any gap a pencil passes through) during the treatment period.
💡 Pro Tips
- If rats ignore bait stations for 5+ days, move them — you've chosen the wrong location
- Add nesting material (cotton, crumpled paper) to bait stations — rodents are more willing to enter stations that feel 'occupied'
- Never touch bait with bare hands — rodent-sensitive species detect human scent
- Keep a simple log of which stations are consuming bait and which aren't — this tells you where the active population is
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