How To Use Bait Stations To Get Rid of Mice & Rats

Learn how this highly effective form of rodent control works.

Quick Guide to Using Bait Stations

To quickly kill rats or mice, place the bait stations between the suspected nest and food source.

It's best to place the bait stations along the wall where the rodents are likely to travel.

For best results, place bait stations for mice at intervals of 8 to 12 feet and intervals of 15 to 30 feet for rats.

If mice or rats have invaded your home or yard, you're perfectly within your rights to scream as loud as you can. After that, though, you'll need to get serious about getting rid of these pests quickly. A single pair of mice can produce about 50 offspring in just one year (try not to scream again) and a pair of rats can produce anywhere from 24 to 84 annual offspring. Fortunately, using bait and bait stations to kill these trespassing pests is both simple and effective.

How Effective Are Bait Stations At Killing Rodents?

When it comes to killing rodents, there's a reason bait stations are a popular solution. A single ounce of Tomcat® Mouse Killer bait can kill up to twelve mice*. A mere four ounces of Tomcat® Rat Killer bait can kill as many as 10 rats*. When using multiple bait stations, you can quickly control your rodent infestation before it gets any bigger.

Pests like mice and rats can harbor disease, so the sooner you get rid of rodents from your home, the quicker you can safeguard your food, home, and family. Once a rodent nibbles a lethal dose of the bait, they will begin to die within 24 to 48 hours. It only takes a very small amount of Tomcat's bait to kill each nibbling pest.

How Do Tomcat Bait Stations Work?

A bait station is not the same as a mouse or rat trap; rather, it is a clever device that holds a bait block. The bait block looks and smells like rodent food but contains poison. Don't worry—the stations are designed to resist tampering from pets and/or children (check the product packaging to determine what type of station it is). The rodent, seeking out food, locates the bait station, crawls inside, and nibbles the bait. Then it crawls back out and likely heads to its nest, where it will die within a day or two. All Tomcat® bait stations are EPA approved for use either indoors or outdoors.

Tomcat designs bait stations that meet a variety of needs. You can choose based on the specific rodent you are trying to kill, station tamper resistance levels, and whether you prefer a disposable or refillable option. No matter which you pick, all Tomcat bait stations have a see-through top so you can monitor bait usage.

Types of Bait Stations

"Child & Dog Resistant" bait stations offer consumers the highest level of tamper resistance for both children and pets. These products can also be

used indoors or outdoors. Tomcat® Child & Dog Resistant bait stations are available in both mouse and rat size. If you have a mouse problem, try the Tomcat® Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station, and for a rat problem, use the Tomcat® Rat & Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station.

"Child Resistant" bait stations, on the other hand, are tested to be tamper-resistant when it comes to children and can only be used

indoors. They should not be used outdoors or where pets are present. Tomcat® Child Resistant bait stations are only available for mice, like the Tomcat® Child Resistant, Disposable Station. The bait station resistance level can be found in the upper right corner on all Tomcat® bait packages.

Tomcat has both disposable and refillable bait stations available.

Disposable: If your mouse or rat problem is small, you might opt for a no-mess, pre-loaded, disposable station.
Refillable: If you have a severe rodent problem and prefer to purchase refillable bait stations, you should remember to always were rubber gloves when handling the bait, and store bait well out of reach of children or pets. Refillable stations are available for both rats and mice.

Where To Place Bait Stations

To quickly lure rats or mice to the bait stations, you should place them between their nest and food source. As mice and rats are creatures of habit, they tend to take the same route back and forth as they scurry for food and water.

As with mechanical traps, it's best to place the bait stations along the wall where the rodents are likely to come upon them as they travel. It's common for mice to quickly enter the bait station and nibble. Rats

may take a little more time to enter the station as they tend to be more cautious. If your bait stations do not get results within a couple days, you should move them to a new location. For best results, place bait stations for mice at intervals of 8 to 12 feet, and intervals of 15 to 30 feet for rats. Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging as well when placing your bait stations.

When dealing with a rodent infestation, bait stations can be used on their own or in conjunction with other rodent control products like mechanical traps and glue traps. Remember: When loading bait in

refillable stations, wear disposable gloves, place bait block the cartridge, and push the cartridge into the station until it clicks into place. Extra bait blocks should be stored in areas that children and pets cannot access, and bait blocks should not be used without a bait station.

*Based on no-choice laboratory testing