Where to place bait stations or traps

Look for signs of rodent activity—such as feces, urine stains, chew marks, or hair—or listen for scratching or squeaking sounds, particularly at night. Place rodent control products in the locations of highest activity. These locations may include behind stoves or refrigerators and inside cabinets. If you place a trap and do not see activity, move it to a different location.

What's the best way to use rodent baits?

The bait block should always be secured in the bait station. You should start baiting as soon as you notice a problem. Place bait stations in areas where you notice or suspect rodent activity to make it easier for rodents to find them. Rats tend to be only 10 to 30 feet away from their dens, while a mouse's home range is 100 to 150 feet. Make sure to keep the bait fresh and dry, and dispose of any old or contaminated bait. Each mouse only needs to consume a fraction of the bait block to get sick and die, so while you may not see a ton of evidence that it's being consumed, it's working. As with any rodent control product, always follow the directions on the packaging. The safest way to use any rodent control product is to keep it out of reach of children and dogs.

The amount of rat droppings you see are a good indication of how many rats are present, as well as where they are most active. They also leave oily marks on walls and baseboards as they run along them, so if you’ve started the removal process but continue to see fresh marks, there are additional rats and you need to continue using your preferred method of control. For more information, read our article on identifying a mouse or rat problem in your house.