Having unwanted pests invading your living areas is the last thing any homeowner wants. Although mice and rats usually stay hidden in their nests, the threats that their presence brings could be potentially dangerous to the health of your family. Using rodent bait stations and traps are some of the best preventive measures for rodent control at home.
So how do mouse traps and bait stations differ from one another? With rodent traps, you can immediately capture mice upon their contact with the board or tray. Meanwhile, mouse bait stations are more slow-acting since they rely on the mice and rats consuming the poison from the station. You have to wait for several days to weeks for the mouse poison to kill the vermin in your space, while traps can immediately catch and stop the rodents from going further into your home.
Mouse Trap vs. Mouse Bait Station: How They Work For Rodent Control
Mice can go unnoticed for years because they can move extremely quietly around the house. If you’re not that observant, you can miss the squeaking or rustling sounds that they make especially in the middle of the night. Fortunately, there are other signs like mouse droppings, urine marks, or gnawings on furniture that can warn you that you have a mouse infestation.
These rodents can multiply quickly so you have to act fast and set up rodent control measures to avoid increasing their population. Mousetraps and bait stations are two of the common rodent control methods that are used to prevent severe infestations. It’s important to distinguish the differences between the two methods before choosing which you will install in your home.
How Do You Use Mouse Traps?
Mouse traps are specialized rodent control products that are designed to catch or entrap mice. They can be placed anywhere indoors such as in the attic, basement, inside cabinets and cupboards, and along walls and corners. They’re available in different styles but the most common types of traps are the traditional snap trap, glue trap, electric trap, and live catch-and-release trap.
Most of the traps can kill rodents either by triggering the release of a powerful snap bar or sending an electric shock to the mice. On the other hand, glue traps simply immobilize the rodents once their paws step on the sticky adhesive surface. They don’t immediately die but some captured mice can end up dead due to thirst or starvation while stuck in the trap. Live traps are considered a more humane form of rodent control since the captured mice are simply brought back outside.
How Do You Use Bait Stations?
Baiting is a widely used method for getting rid of common household pests like termites, ants, and cockroaches, but there are also specific baits that can effectively lure and exterminate mice populations. Most bait stations have a plastic container or box that contains the rat poison, liquid baits, or anticoagulant bait. Compared to rodent trapping, this method is more time-consuming since you have to wait for the mice to discover and take the bait.
Since bait stations contain toxic baits, they are best placed outdoors or around the exterior perimeter of your home. They should be far from the access of your children and pets since they can be harmful once ingested. Placing bait stations outside can be a good strategy to protect your property and prevent mice from entering indoors.
Pros and Cons of Mouse Trapping and Mouse Baiting
Both baiting and mouse trapping have their own set of benefits and certain disadvantages. To help you find the best rodent control solution, here’s an overview of their pros and cons:
| | Pros | Cons |
| Mousetraps | Can be installed inside the home to control mouse population Safer for use around children and pets since they don’t use rodenticides or mouse poison Keeps the captured mice in place to minimize contamination and avoid finding a dead mouse in unwanted areas | May need to set up multiple traps to increase the chances of catching rodents Some rodents may avoid the trap by jumping over it or finding a new pathway The area where you will set up the trap should be free of other food source or the rodents may not go to your bait Requires constant monitoring to see if a mouse has been captured |
| Rodent bait stations | Its container is covered to prevent bait from spilling and secure it from children and non-target animals Can use tamper resistant bait stations for long term rodent control Unlike traps that keep the bait out in the open, bait stations can keep them fresh to attract rodents Available in disposable or refillable bait stations | Can take several days to weeks for the poison baits to kill rodents Rodents can still explore around the house after taking the bait so there’s a risk of them dying in hidden and hard-to-reach places When you have a dead rodent, you can notice a pungent smell inside the home Will also require regular checking to make sure there is still a good amount of fresh bait |
How To Know Which Rodent Control Method Should You Use
It’s always important to consult with pest control professionals if you already have a serious rodent infestation at home. They can suggest the appropriate rodent control program to handle your mice problem and save you the hassle of doing DIY control at home. However, deciding which rodent control method to use will depend on your goal and needs:
For quick and easy mice capture: Mouse traps
Rodent traps provide a convenient solution for getting rid of mice and rats that are already existing in your home. They can be easily installed along active rodent runways to capture mice once they come out of their nests to search for food. They can also help minimize further contamination since it is difficult for rodents to escape once they get caught in the mouse trap.
For exterminating or reducing rodent population: Bait stations
What makes bait stations an effective rodent exterminator is that they use poison or bait blocks which mice can feed on. With bait stations, you can easily mix the rodenticide with their food so the rodents will not be suspicious and feel comfortable consuming the bait. This increases the chances of eliminating or decreasing the rodent population in your home. However, there is a risk that they will expire inside their nests and it can be troublesome to remove on your own.
A Reminder When Using Bait Stations
For bait stations, there’s a possibility that the mice will not take the bait especially if they dislike its scent or taste. It’s also important to properly place the bait stations where the rodents have easy access such as near their holes or trails. Most bait stations are recommended for outdoor use since they use chemicals and rat poison.
If you’re placing them indoors, make sure that they are secure and cannot be reached by children. Don’t place bait stations inside a pantry or near storage areas since they may avoid it and ransack your food supply.
Tips for Effective Rodent Control At Home
Pest control professionals will often say that you shouldn’t rely on a single method for rodent control. Setting up both bait stations and mouse traps can eradicate existing mice and guarantee a rodent-free environment. Here are some tips for a comprehensive rodent control with baiting and trapping:
- Find the right locations where the bait stations and mouse traps will be installed. It’s ideal to place them in areas with high rodent activity and obvious signs of rodent droppings, urine, and marks.
- Don’t place mouse traps in open spaces or hallways. Mice tend to stick close to walls so set up traps perpendicularly or against wall surfaces.
- For mouse traps, make sure to secure the food bait with dental floss so they won’t be able to steal and run away.
- Choose the right attractant to use in the trap. Some of the best baits for mouse traps are peanut butter, nuts, seeds, grains, chocolate, meat, and nesting material.
- For a refillable station, regularly check the container and refill with fresh bait to keep the mice coming. Stale bait may deter the mice which can reduce the effectiveness of your rodent control.
- Wear disposable gloves whenever you’re handling mouse bait. Mice can detect the human scent and if they smell it on the trap or bait station, they might avoid going near it.
- Whenever you have a successful capture in the trap, clean and dispose of the rodent immediately. Other mice may be able to smell the captured rodent and they may avoid the trap and find other pathways.
- Make sure to seal the captured rodent in an airtight container before throwing them in the trash.
- Use a water-and-bleach solution or a disinfectant to thoroughly clean the areas where you placed the mouse trap.
- To prevent rodents from returning, seal all possible entry points such as holes, gaps, cracks, and crevices where they can sneak in. You can use steel wool, wire screen, or caulking to block these entrances.
Solve Your Rodent Problems With Midway Pest Management
The best rodent control programs make use of the appropriate techniques and tools, and sometimes using both bait stations and traps can work more efficiently for getting rid of your house mouse problem. At Midway Pest Management, our pest control experts uphold a high standard for rodent control services to give our clients a peace of mind.
We use the latest equipment and employ the best methods to eradicate your rodent problems. We offer free home inspections and have our team thoroughly assess your situation so we can create a specific rodent control program for your needs. Call us today to book a home visit and know more about our pest control products and services.