Although extremely effective at killing rodent pests they can also be harmful to non-target species including pets, wildlife and people. Always read the instructions before placing baits and immediately remove carcases to minimise risk of secondary poisoning.
Pest Expert Rat Bait Blocks contain the maximum legal concentration of the powerful rodenticide Brodifacoum (0.0029%), making them a highly effective rat killer, even on warfarin-resistant rodents.
For rats, use 1 to 3 blocks (depending on the level of infestation) at intervals of 5 to 9m. Record the number and locations of bait stations for the purpose of replacement and later removal. Inspect and replace wax blocks that have been consumed. If eaten quickly then increase the number of blocks used.
Rats will eat up to 25 - 30 grams of food at a time. It takes 3 of such feeds to get enough poison into one rat to kill it.
How long does it take for rat poison to work? Once the rat consumes the poison it can take 2–3 days for the rodent to die. Incidentally, once a rat is poisoned it will stop feeding and this greatly reduces the risk of secondary poisoning.
Do rats take poison back to nest? Rats are known for their high intelligence and resourcefulness, so it might seem like a rat would be able to take poison back to its nest. Yes, this is true. Rats are able to take the poison back to their nest.
Most domestic rats and mice block baits use some form of anticoagulant poison. These poisons inhibit the enzyme Vitamin K affecting the rodents' blood, reducing the animal's ability to clot, and rodents that digest the poison bleed internally and die.
A roof rat spends most of the day sleeping in its nest. These rodents are nimble climbers and live in high places like attics or above drop ceilings.
Rats and mice are nocturnal with most activity taking place between approximately one half hour after sunset to about one half hour before sunrise.
A Study Found Some Rats are Becoming Resistant to Poison
Rats are hard-wired to survive and they've adapted to live in all kinds of conditions. Now it seems, that some rats have developed a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to conventional poison.
The first step in determining if all of the rats are gone is to look for signs of their activity. Look around your home for droppings, nesting materials, smudges on walls, and gnaw marks. If you don't see any of these signs, then it's a good indication that the rats have left the area.
Rats are social creatures, which means that if you find one dead rat, there are likely more living rats somewhere nearby. To help avoid coming across another rat, be it dead or alive, you'll need to take the following preventative measures: Keep up with building repair and maintenance to eliminate entry points.
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.
Rodents: Rats and mice develop bait shyness very readily; it can persist for weeks or months and may be transferred to nontoxic foods of similar types. Thus, if poisons are used for control they must provide no sensation of illness after ingestion.
Answer: Once a pail of rodenticide has been opened, the bait will remain effective for a year if kept in the airtight bucket in a cool, dry place. As for blocks that are placed in a bait station, we recommend changing out the bait every 30 days.
Brodifacoum - This is probably the 'strongest' poison you are likely to buy. It is a single feed bait, which means that the offending mouse or rat will consume a lethal dose at the first time of feeding. Its relatively fast acting with rats and mice dying within 3/4 days of consuming enough poison.
Peppermint Oil
On a cotton ball use no more than 5 drops of 100% peppermint essential oil. Spread the oil on areas that you want rats to avoid, in your case, around the garden.
to eliminate sources of food, shelter, and water. Denied food, rats will turn to killing and eating each other, further reducing the infestation. Rats cannot live without food, water, or shelter.
As it turns out, there are several smells that these pests cannot stand, which means you can use them to your advantage. But what exactly do mice and rats hate to smell? Mice can be kept away by using the smells of peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar, citronella, ammonia, bleach, and mothballs.
Rats are social creatures and need the company of other rats. They use their sense of smell to recognise others, finding out about where they've been and what they've been doing. As rats are social animals, they can get depressed and develop abnormal behaviour if they live on their own.
Sprinkle scents they don't like
A great way to bring mice out of hiding and steer them in the direction you want them to go is to sprinkle potent scents they find particularly unpleasant. Mice don't like the smell of garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, cloves, ammonia and alcohol.
In autumn and sometimes even late summer, rats become more active. In this time of high activity, they gather and store as much food as they can in their burrows for the upcoming winter. Though they do not hibernate, they stockpile on food to reduce the need to leave the warmth of their burrows.
If you buy a first-generation rodent poison, it will usually take about seven days for the rodent to die. The reason is that the lethal dose takes multiple feeding sessions. A second-generation poison can kill the rodent from internal bleeding in two to three days.
Poison does not cause the rodent to go out to drink, and thus die outside. Rat poison makes the rat lethargic, and it dies wherever it happens to be when the poison takes effect.
When rats are dying from poison, they will sometimes come out into the open in search of water due to severe dehydration. However, they are often too weak to leave their lairs and die within walls or other out-of-reach places.