Using Baits
HOW TO USE A RODENT BAIT STATION
Learn how to set a bait station to kill mice and rats.
When you need powerful rodent control with the flexibility to kill a single rodent or a dozen, Tomcat® Mouse Killer and Rat & Mouse Killer Baits are the way to go. Bait stations are an effective rodent solution that allow you to handle rodent problems in a way that fits your household's needs.
Mice and rats may look cute in the pet store, but when you see one scurrying across your kitchen floor, you have a big problem. One pair of mice can produce between 50 and 60 offspring in a single year, and a single pair of rats can produce between 24 and 72 offspring. They may carry serious diseases and spread filth wherever they go. In a house or apartment, they can gnaw through doors, cabinets, walls, insulation, wiring (potentially causing electrical fires), or just about anything they can get their sharp teeth on.
Quick Guide to Using a Bait Station
- Remove the bait station from the box. If you’re using a refillable station, follow the instructions on the package to insert the bait block.
- Place the bait station in an area in which you’ve noticed evidence of mice or rats, such as next to a wall, in a dark corner, in the attic, below a window, etc.
- Make sure the entryway to the station is facing out from the wall or corner.
- Repeat as needed with additional stations every 8-12 feet for mice, or 15-30 feet for rats.
What is a Bait Station?
A bait station is not a trap. It’s a device that holds a bait block securely inside to prevent children and pets from coming in contact with it so they’re protected against accidental poisoning. Rodents do not die in the bait station, so don't expect to find any there. Instead, a mouse or rat enters the station, eats a lethal dose of bait, leaves the station, and usually goes back to its nest where it dies 1-2 days later.
All Tomcat® bait stations have a transparent top so you can monitor bait usage. Rodents only need to eat a small amount of bait for it to be lethal, so if you notice there’s not a large amount of bait missing, don’t worry, it’s still working. In fact, a single 1 oz bait block can kill up to 12 mice*, and a 4 oz bait block can kill up to 10 rats*. This versatility makes baits a popular option for rodent control because you can kill a small or large infestation with a single station.
Even though rodent bait stations can be used as a standalone control option, they can also be used together with mechanical and glue traps to create a complete rodent extermination system. Combining baits and traps is especially effective if you suspect you have a lot of rodents or want to get aggressive with your rodent elimination.
Disposable vs. Refillable Bait Stations
Tomcat® bait stations come in disposable and refillable options. If you have a rodent problem that is manageable with a few bait block placements and do not want to deal with touching or storing loose bait blocks for safety reasons, disposable stations, like the Tomcat® Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station or the Tomcat® Rat & Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station, are the right choice for you. Simply remove it from the box and place along a wall or in a corner near where you’ve noticed rodent activity.
If you have a larger issue or a rodent problem that persist throughout the year or seasonally, refillable bait stations, like the Tomcat® Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Refillable Station or the Tomcat® Rat & Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Refillable Station, provide a way to replenish the bait supply in each station.
Here’s how to set up a Tomcat® refillable bait station:
- Always wear gloves when handling rodent bait.
- Squeeze prongs on the bait compartment and pull to slide out.
- Load bait blocks on to prongs.
- Insert the bait compartment back into the station until it clicks into place.
- Place the bait station in a corner or along a wall near recent rodent activity.
- Store remaining bait blocks in a tightly sealed container safely out of reach of children and pets.
Where to Place Bait Stations
Indoors. Place bait stations where rodents will find them, which is usually between their nest and a food supply. Here are some tips on where to place bait stations inside your home.
- Along walls or in corners where you’ve noticed greasy streaks, chew marks, or droppings
- Behind or underneath kitchen appliances
- In dark corners or along walls of an attic, basement, or garage
- Along rafters, and in drop ceilings near where you’ve heard or seen rodent activity
Outdoors. For bait stations that can be used both indoors and outdoors, like the Tomcat® Rat & Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station, outdoor placement should be around the perimeter of the home. Place baits near these common exterior access points.
- Entry doors, garage doors, and below windows
- Where utilities enter the home
- Crawl space vents and dryer vent exhaust
- Around sheds and other outbuildings
- Near trash cans, compost bins, and woodpiles
The entryway to the station should always be facing out from the object it is set against. While the child and dog resistant stations allow for greater flexibility in placement, no rodent control products should be placed in areas where children and pets frequent regularly.
Bait station placement depends on the type of rodent you are dealing with.
- For mice, space stations 8 to 12 feet apart.
- For rats, place bait stations 15 to 30 feet apart, depending on the severity of the infestation.
- Place stations closer together for bigger rodent problems.
With Tomcat® you can effectively control rats and mice with a wide variety of bait stations and other control products to fit your individual needs and stop rodents dead in their tracks.
*Based on no-choice laboratory testing
