The presence of rats can be stressful and controlling rats can be an uphill battle. Despite rat killer poison being one of the most effective solutions, if you have not used rat bait before, you may be feeling even more overwhelmed from the variety of options available.
In this post, we will look at different attributes of the three main forms of rat bait available. Each have their own advantages which can depend on factors such as the target area’s location and the risk to non-target species. Ensuring you pick the correct form, or combination of forms, is essential to achieve the most effective and humane results.
We will also look at 2 of the main forms of rat poisons available for amateur use, Brodifacoum and Difenacoum, in a separate post. We supply each of these in either grain, block or paste form here and each have their own advantages, being either a single-feed or multi-feed rat poison.
Always read the and follow the manufacturer’s instruction on the packet and follow government health and safety guidelines. If you are unsure on whether rodenticides are the best course of action, which form of bait would be best suited to your situation, or how to use rodenticides safely and effectively, always get advice from a professional pest controller. It is also prudent to note that baiting for rats is not the only way to control them and is often seen as a last resort, once all other options have been considered due to risks such as overspill to non-target species. We explore alternative options here.
Bait Stations
Before looking at the three main forms of rat bait, it is important to highlight the importance of bait stations.
Regardless of which form is suitable to your situation, there is always a risk that the bait can be ingested by non-target species (such as pets or birds). In light of this, it is essential that any poison is set within a secure, tamper-proof bait station which helps to ensure non-target species do not have access to the bait.
The rat and mouse poison should be placed inside of the bait station which is then locked. The only way in and out is via a small hole which is just big enough for a rat our mouse meaning that birds, children and pets shouldn’t be able to get to the poison. These do not hinder the effectiveness of the bait as rats and mice have an incredible sense of smell and will be able to locate the bait with ease. We supply secure, tamperproof bait stations here.
Blocks
Bait blocks are normally a palatable, sweet smelling rat food, mixed with poison and covered with wax. They are available in our range of rodent control products.
As they are singular, larger blocks, the risk of loose parts spilling and becoming accessible to non-target species is reduced. The wax coating also means they are more resistant to adverse weather conditions, such as rain, compared to other forms of bait which may become soggy and lose their attractants.
In addition, rats also have to ‘gnaw’ objects (often pipes and cables) in order to sharpen and wear down their teeth as they grow. Bait blocks leverage this behaviour by being designed in a shape that is an attractive proposition for the rats to ‘gnaw’ on.
Blocks normally have a hole running through the middle of them. This is by design as it allows them to be attached to a metal rod contained inside of a bait station – helping to ensure the rats cannot run off with the bait!
We supply Brodifcaoum and Difenacoum based rat killer poison blocks, the former being a more powerful, single feed bait and the latter a multi feed bait meaning rats will have to come dine on the poison multiple times to hit a lethal dose. Each have their own applications which we will explore in later posts.
Grain
This form of rat poison comes on a grain (for example oats or wheat) which have been laced with attractants to ensure maximum efficacy. We supply grain rat poison in our store, with either Brodifacoum or Difenacoum as the active ingredient.
Rats can be suspicious of unfamiliar objects (such as blocks), however as grains are a rat’s common food source, they are normally less suspicious, increasing this form’s effectiveness. The grains will be a different colour to their natural form (for example blue or red) which can help people identify them as poison.
Grain bait is a popular choice for areas that can be hard to reach or for small, concealed areas where rats are present, however if applying grain users should always be aware and take appropriate measures to protect against the risk of the bait spilling to non-target areas or becoming accessible by non-target species. Secure, tamper-proof bait stations should always be used.
One of the main drawbacks to grain poisons is that they are not normally weather resistant and can become soggy and unattractive if exposed to rain. There is also the above noted risk that grains can spill into non-target areas or become accessible to non-target species.
Paste
Paste bait can be effective when rats reject grain or block baits – either because they are too suspicious of them, or they do not find them appetising.
The paste comes in individual sachets that can be attached directly to the metal rod of a bait station. The formula is normally packed with highly attractive ingredients such as peanut oils and cereals which make it incredibly palatable for the rodents and the outer packaging can make it appear as if it’s waste food that has been thrown out, reducing the risk of suspicion from the rodents.
It is made up of high calorie ingredients which can make it a suitable choice if the rats have access to other food sources (such as in cities) as they will favour the easiest, high-calorie meal.
We supply Brodifcaoum and Difenacoum based rat killer poison pastes which can be viewed using the button below.
Tips For Effectiveness
Regardless of the form that is right for you, there are certain tips that apply across the board to increase the effectiveness of the poisons.
Placement: Ensuring the rat baits are placed correctly is vital. Where possible, the bait should be placed somewhere along the rat’s travel route between where they nest and where they get their food. These places will normally be sheltered (rats rarely feed out in the open) and frequented by the rodents.
Rat Poison Quality: As noted by the BPCA, Rats are suspicious by nature so it may take them a while to get comfortable enough to eat the bait. Ensuring you use high-quality rodenticides with good attractants is best. Bait stations can also help as they provide additional ‘shelter’ for when the rats eat the poison.
Remove Access to Alternative Food Sources: To limit their options, removing other food sources (by securing waste in bins, removing fallen fruit and bird feed in gardens etc.) can also improve results. They will be far more tempted of high-quality baits when they don’t have access to other food sources.
Don’t Move the Baiting Points: Once placed, avoid moving the baiting points where possible. As above, rats are suspicious so the more ‘food’ sources move about, the less likely they are to go near them.
Replenish the Rat Poison: Always ensure the bait stations/bait points are replenished in line with the manufacturer’s instruction on the packet. Rats can eat quite a bit and there may be a whole nest of them feeding. To ensure they are eradicated entirely, there needs to be enough rat poison provided.
Conclusion
So, which is the best form of bait? The answer is that it depends on the situation.
If the bait is likely to be exposed to adverse weather, block bait may be the appropriate option. If the rats are likely to have access to other food sources, paste may be the most effective. If rats have become suspicious of different ‘food sources’ appearing, or are in hard to reach place, grain might get them to bite!
Regardless of the form chosen, if, once you have considered methods of controlling rats without using poisons, you decide using rodenticide is appropriate, always take appropriate measures to ensure the risk to non-target species is reduced and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions located on the packaging of the rat bait.
If you are unsure on anything, always consult a professional pest controller prior to any application of bait. You should always follow the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticides Use (CRRU)’s guidelines, such as take appropriate steps to locate rodents once they’ve died and dispose of them appropriately.
If a course of rodenticide is the appropriate method, users should also look at combining it with other methods, such as proofing, to ensure rat infestations are controlled long-term and further, avoidable use of rodenticide is not needed.
Here at The Pest Collective, we supply a range of amateur use rodenticides that are manufactured by Lodi, a family-owned company who started in the West Midlands. They are one of the leading supplies into the professional and agricultural sectors in Europe and we are now pleased to be able to offer their high-quality baits in amateur use form.
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