Rodenticides for Rats

Rat rodenticides approved for amateur use can be placed indoors (lofts, garages, sheds) or outdoors directly around buildings—such as along external walls or near outbuildings. Always use in a secure, tamper-resistant bait station.

Depending on the bait type and infestation size, you may see reduced activity within a few days. Most rodenticides are designed to work after one or several feeds, with full results in 4–10 days.

These products are toxic to rodents. Bait must be placed inside a tamper-resistant bait station at all times, never loose, and stations kept out of reach of children and pets. Always follow the label instructions.

Anticoagulant bait works over several days, and a poisoned rat will usually die out of sight. Search the treated area regularly and remove any carcasses you find.

Always wear gloves. Lift the carcass with tongs or a shovel rather than by hand and, still wearing your gloves, place it in a plastic bag, seal it, place that inside a second bag and put it in your outdoor bin. This matters because a cat, dog, fox or bird of prey that eats a poisoned rat can be affected too - that is secondary poisoning, and carcass removal is the main thing that prevents it.

Usually, yes. Snap and electronic traps involve no active substance, carry no secondary risk to pets or wildlife, and leave a carcass you can see and remove rather than one decomposing in a cavity. Proof the entry points first, trap what is already inside, and keep rodenticide for cases where trapping alone hasn't worked.

Seal the entry points - a rat gets through a gap of around 15mm - using wire wool, sealant and air brick covers, and fit a drain guard if the route in is the drainage system. Then remove what drew them: food in airtight containers, bins closed, spillages cleared.