Are Rodent Bait Stations Safe?

Rats, mice and other small rodents can present a serious health hazard to any home or business premises, especially businesses where hygiene is essential, such as catering or medicine.

Rodent bait stations are a popular and effective option to eradicate, or at least drastically reduce, a rat or small rodent infestation.

However, despite their effectiveness, many people have concerns about the safety of bait stations, as they contain poisoned bait that might harm pets and even people. In order to make an informed choice about the safest and most suitable pest elimination method, we’ve put together an overview of bait stations, so you can weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of this method.

How Do Rodent Bait Stations Work?

A rodent bait station is a small, usually plastic, box with a hole that allows pests to enter. Inside the box is a highly toxic bait, so any rodents that consume the bait will die. Many rodents also transfer bait back their nest where it will be shared with others.

The Benefits

By providing an unobtrusive means to deal with a rodent problem, bait stations are highly effective.

Each unit is clearly affixed with warning labels, to ensure they comply will all current health and safety regulations.

The boxes or stations are available in both plastic and metal, and although plastic is generally preferred, metal stations are more durable and robust, so in some situations, such as outdoors or public areas, they offer enhanced tamper protection and longevity.

Bait is available in variety of formulations, including grain, paste and blocks, so you (or a pest control expert) can chose the formulation most effective for your type of pest problem.

Choosing a solid form of bait can also provide protection against spillages, and because bait stations are tamper- and weather-resistant, the boxes can be safely placed outside, without the risk of non-target animals, or even inquisitive children, coming into contact with the poison.

If you have young children or pets, a station is also a viable alternative to other pesticide or toxic treatments. Some other treatments will leave residues behind that can be dangerous to non-target animals and humans, whereas in a bait station the poison is safely contained.

The boxes are small, so only small pests can enter, which again protects larger animals from coming into contact with the bait, but also means that rats, mice and rodents, will feel safe to feed for longer periods of time, increasing the chances that they will consume a deadly dose of poison.

Whilst we know that cost should not be the sole factor in choosing your pest control method, we understand that for many, it is a factor that will greatly influence your decision. Bait stations are not only very effective, but are also low cost, and more cost effective that paying for other regular treatments.

The Drawbacks

The primary disadvantage of these bait stations is that there is never any guarantee that the rodent will actually come across them during their travels. Even if they are placed in an area well-known for rodent visits, if they already have a reliable source of food, they may not risk venturing into the station.

Secondly, the rodents may not actually take the bait. Some can be quite particular with their tastes, and again, if they are present in your home or business, it is very likely they already have a reliable and trusted food source.

It’s always recommended that a pest control expert assists you with the placement of the station, and the type of station and bait, to ensure optimal results. They can also provide reassurance that the boxes and bait are safely contained to prevent non-target animal poisoning and accidental contact with people.

Are Rodent Bait Stations Right for Me?

As we can see, bait stations offer a safe and effective solution to small rodent control in many situations, but there are always individual circumstances that may make bait boxes an unsuitable or unsafe solution.

Whilst many bait boxes are sold as a DIY pest control solution, we would never recommend choosing a toxic pest control method without first discussing your options with a professional. An expert pest control service will develop a thorough understanding of your property, your individual circumstances and the size and type of pest problem before recommending a solution. They can also recommend the ideal type of bait and the placement of the box, as well as other practical prevention advice that can help to reduce the likelihood of the problem returning or worsening.

Pest Defence are experts in providing effective pest control services. If you would like to know more about our range of rodent control services, or specifically about rodent bait stations, please get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help.