Mouse Bait Stations

A mouse bait station is a small lockable box that holds a trap or bait inside a tamper-resistant casing. Mice enter through an opening at each end, so the trap or bait sits out of reach of children, pets and non-target wildlife while staying accessible to the mouse.

Either, and the choice matters more than the box. A snap trap inside a station gives you a fast kill with no active substance and a carcass you can see and remove. Rodenticide works where trapping hasn't, but a poisoned mouse usually dies out of sight and carries a secondary risk to anything that scavenges it. Most people should start with a trap.

Set the trap first, then place it inside with the trigger end facing the entrance, and bait it with a pea-sized amount of attractant gel rather than a generous smear. Wear gloves so your scent isn't on it. Our guide to setting up a mouse trap covers the detail.

Flat against a wall, in the corners and along the runs where you have seen droppings - mice travel with one side of their body in contact with a surface and rarely cross open floor. Behind appliances, in the back of cupboards, along loft joists and under kitchen units are the usual spots. Leave it undisturbed for a few days; mice are wary of new objects.

A station is a meaningful improvement on a loose trap or loose bait, and lockable models need a key to open. Use as directed and place stations out of reach of children and pets where you can - a locked box reduces the risk but does not remove the need for sensible placement.

Lockable models do. Our unikey fits all standard PestBuddy and Rotech stations, so one key covers however many you run. Keep a spare - the key is the part people lose.

Yes, in sheltered positions such as against an outbuilding, under decking or beside a bin store. Weight or fix the station down so it can't be moved, and check it more often outdoors, where damp and weather degrade bait faster.

No - a rat won't fit through the entrance. If you are unsure which you have, our guide to telling mice and rats apart settles it, and droppings are the quickest tell. Where you have both, use a rat station, which mice will use as well.