Scratching in the roof, droppings in the pantry or chewed wiring are all signs that it is time to get rid of rats and mice before the problem grows. Rodents spoil food, damage cables and stored goods, and carry diseases. This guide explains how to keep them out, which baits and traps to use, and how to use them safely around children, pets and animals.
Signs you need to get rid of rats and mice
Look for dark droppings along walls and in cupboards, gnaw marks on wood, plastic and cables, greasy smear marks along regular routes, shredded nesting material and noises in the roof or walls at night. Fresh droppings and new gnaw marks show where rodents are active now.
Close the way in
Mice can squeeze through gaps about the width of a pencil, and rats through slightly larger ones. Seal gaps around pipes and cables, fit brushes under doors, close openings at roof eaves and keep doors to storerooms shut. Store food and animal feed in sealed containers, and clear up spilled grain and pet food every day.
Choose the right rodent bait
Coopers Ultrakill rodent baits contain flocoumafen, an anticoagulant. Rodents usually die a few days after feeding, which stops the rest of the colony from linking the bait to the danger and avoiding it. Choose the format that suits the place:
- Rat and mouse grain bait is very palatable and works well in dry roofs, sheds and storerooms.
- Rat and mouse wax blocks hold up in damp areas such as drains, gardens and outbuildings, and can be secured inside bait stations.
- Rat and mouse pellets are easy to measure into bait stations.
For farms, warehouses and large properties, the 2.5kg wax blocks and the 2.5kg grain bait work out cheaper per use.
Always use bait stations
A lockable bait station keeps the bait dry and out of reach of children, pets, birds and livestock, while rodents can still get in to feed. The Coopers Bravo Bait Station suits homes and gardens, and the rat and mouse bait boxes are handy where you need several placements.
Traps where bait is not an option
In kitchens, food storage areas and anywhere you do not want rodents to die out of sight, use a trap. The Rodent Snap Trap can be reused many times. Set it at a right angle to the wall with the trigger facing the wall, on the route rodents travel, and check it every day.
Where to place baits and traps
Rats and mice travel along walls and edges rather than across open floors. Place stations and traps along those routes, near droppings and gnaw marks, in roof spaces, behind appliances and along the outside walls of buildings. Use several placements rather than one large one.
Check, refill and clean up
Check baits every few days and refill those that have been eaten, until feeding stops. Wear gloves when you handle baits, traps and dead rodents, put dead rodents in a sealed bag in the bin, and wash your hands afterwards.
Use rodent bait safely
Read the label before use and follow its directions and precautions exactly. Keep all baits in bait stations, out of reach of children, pets and livestock. Anticoagulant baits have an antidote, vitamin K1, given by a doctor or vet: if a person or animal may have eaten bait, get medical or veterinary help immediately and take the label with you. The baits above are registered under Act 36 of 1947, with registration numbers on each product page.
Shop our full rats and mice range, or request a bulk quote for farms and businesses. For other seasonal pests, read our fly control tips for summer and our guide on how to get rid of cockroaches.
