Risks and Procedures for Exterior Rodent Bait Stations

Introduction

Exterior rodenticide baiting must be managed in consultation with a certified Pest Control Operator. Exterior bait stations are frequently employed by licensed pest management professionals to reduce rodent pressure in the vicinity of cultural heritage properties but should never be used inside cultural heritage properties such as museums, historic houses, libraries, archives, or natural history collection areas, and they should only be used by certified pest control professionals.

Bait stations come in a variety of styles; many just look like a box, but there are also ornamental stations made to look like rocks. All bait stations require a special unlocking tool which technicians use for regular service checks or as otherwise needed. Stations are usually placed next to the target building near entrances and at regular intervals around the building’s exterior perimeter.

Usually, pest management technicians place rodenticide baits inside of the locked bait stations, luring rodents inside to feed repeatedly on the poison. In situations where use of rodenticide bait is not appropriate, for instance if children or pets are present, snap traps can be placed inside the bait stations instead of rodenticide.

Rodenticide baits are poisonous to birds and mammals. Vulnerable groups include small, non-target species who may access the rodenticide directly from the bait stations. Further, predatory animals and birds of prey are at risk of secondary poisoning when they ingest small animals who have consumed rodenticide. Rodenticide is also poisonous to humans.

Damaged bait stations present a hazard to humans, birds, and other mammals. Staff should report any damaged bait stations to the pest management company immediately.

Regulations

Rodenticide bait currently registered to control mice and/or rats contain one of the following rodenticides:

Bromethalin
Chlorophacinone
Diphacinone

To learn more about US regulations around rodenticides, consult EPA guidelines.

JHA: Exterior Rodent Bait Stations

What can go wrong?

What are the consequences?

How could it happen?

How to mitigate the hazard?

Handler can be exposed to poison baits

Illness from accidental ingestion

Cross-contamination of other surfaces

Lack of focus, knowledge or mishandling of baits

Not changing gloves between tasks

Baits should only be handled by experienced technicians

Gloves should be worn when handling bait blocks or packets

Bait stations can be damaged

Baits are exposed and can be ingested by humans or other non-target organisms

Bait stations may be run over by a vehicle or broken due to impact

Damaged bait stations should be reported to the pest management company and replaced immediately

What can go wrong?	What are the consequences?	How could it happen?	How to mitigate the hazard?
If bait stations are needed but not correctly employed, rodents may enter the building to access food and shelter	Rodents gnaw on and damage items and contaminate them with droppings and urine	Bait stations needed along building exteriors are not employed correctly or at all (for example, they are not placed near dumpsters at building entrances/loading docks) because pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO) is not well-vetted or well-informed	Bait stations should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)

What can go wrong?	What are the consequences?	How could it happen?	How to mitigate the hazard?
Depleted bait stations	Bait stations are not effective, rodent populations are not reduced	Bait station service schedule is inadequate for the rate of bait consumption	Adjust monitoring frequency and evaluate the adequacy of the number of stations employed
Bait station damaged or moved	Bait stations are not effective due to broken or poorly located units	Pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO) is not well-vetted and poorly locates stations or uses them in restricted areas making non-target animal vulnerable to poisoning	Use a well-vetted Pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO) who understands both appropriate bait station placement and local regulations Adjust bait station location to reduce likelihood of damage and regularly check that stations are intact
Rodenticide-loaded bait station used in restricted area where non-target prey animals are vulnerable	Non-target species die as a result of direct bait consumption or secondary consumption of poisoned prey	Bait station entry is not designed to prohibit entry from non-target mammals Bait can be removed and spread by raccoons or other curious creatures	Do not use bait station traps in areas where prohibited If animal are pulling bait out of stations and spreading it around, change bait station style