Pest Control Bait Station

Is there any litature that states that a rodent baitstation has to be anchored to the ground? There is a new product that is attached to a block weight; this acts like an anchor and I need to see if there is a code for how heavy it must be or if it is a suitable replacement.

That would be pretty interesting to know.

Whether they need to be anchored or not is probably a local or state rule (here in the US). If your facility is audited by AIB, they do require that the bait station be "anchored in place". That does not necessarily mean it has to be anchored to the "ground".

The main reason for anchoring bait stations is to prevent the bait from being shaken loose (by small children, for example).

According BRC and IFS bait stations need to robust, of tamper resistant construction, secured in place and appropriately located.
The most common ways to secure in place is: glue or chain/wire inside the building. Glue in dry area. Wires in wet area or were you need to lift the bait station for cleaning. and placed on a sidewalk tile/anchored outside. The pupose is indeed to prevent the bait station and specially the bait to get on places you do not want it . E.g. by wind, personnel, animals/children (outside), cars, reaach trucks, cleaning company, etc.

Ofcourse a big stone on top will also do the trick

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Personally I would argue that one of the main reasons for attaching to the ground is to avoid them being moved (often a problem with cleaning activities IME).

Placement can be very important, especially for non toxic baits as in the wrong place there is nothing to "attract" a rodent to the trap; normally they have to be run flush with the wall (which is where rodents would run if present). From a food safety perspective as well, there is a risk of having things floating around your food production area, potentially being trodden on and broken creating a physical hazard as well as removing the pest control protection.

For toxic baits then obviously there is the H&S risk as rodent poison is poisonous to humans.

IMO in the UK anyway, there is no reason in law why they need to be fixed but I know that AIB auditors over here have interpreted AIB as asking for fixed rather than weighted bait points and I think BRC expect them to be fixed. I suppose my question is why not fix them?

There are no real answers here, I have not seen any "official" literature regarding the tethering of bait stations, It comes down to common sense and the requirements of your client specifications.

Any decent pest control operator would consult the clients, clients requirements and adhere to that.

As with all specs they if not at first obvious are there for a reason, and secondly as has been asked

Why not?? it makes sense to me, at least I know when I undertake an inspection the boxes are where I left them and I don`t waste my time on a game of hide and seek

Bunny

Dear LAB1,

According to BRC food standard the bait stations must be secured in place.I got a non minor conformances as our stations were not secured into the walls.The pest controller brought new bait stations with chain links which were secured into the walls thus making it secure and cannot be moved.

Regards,
Kamwenji

I agree with the comments made by GMO. Toxic baits should not be allowed in processing areas and this is a strict requirement with Organic Standards too!!

There should be no baits inside the factory walls, as they have an attractant, and as others have pointed out, are also toxic. An obvious high risk if you have unsecured bait stations externally each side of an entrance door.
Even internal "tin cat"type traps should be secured to the wall to avoid being moved for cleaning etc.
I would think that securing bait stations is common to all standards.
Cosmo

Fixing bait or trapping boxes to the floor with glue causes another hygiene problem - they cannot be moved to clean underneath. I have lifted glued boxes with a screw driver to see a mess of dust and a scatter of crawling insects in the space around the blobs of hardened glue. Attaching them to the wall with a chain or wire is a much better option, besides when you have to replace a crushed or dirty box with a new one glued boxes are a curse.

Dear all,

It is important to anchor the traps and bait stations in AIB and to be temper resistant according to BRC. Bait stations can be used as first defense line against intrusion and not recommendable inside or near food facility in any case. Glue traps can be used near food facility entrance door.

Faisal Rafique

Dear all,

It is important to anchor the traps and bait stations in AIB and to be temper resistant according to BRC. Bait stations can be used as first defense line against intrusion and not recommendable inside or near food facility in any case. Glue traps can be used near food facility entrance door.

Faisal Rafique

I must make the clear caveat that the use of glue traps will be very dependant upon the locality. For example, they are totally banned for rodent control use in the Netherlands, and there are considerable restructions ujpon their use in the UK.

All the major specs require bait boxes (toxic or non-toxic) to be anchored. Most require the boxes to be tamper-resistant. Preference for anchoring, IMO, is a flexible method that allows the box to be lifted for cleaning. I have found many boxes which are fixed solidly to teh ground that are holding infestable debris behind, inside or under the boxes.

I believe that the new AIB International spec now instructs that baits of any kind cannot be used inside a plant. This means that trapping methods are required.

Hello,

In the past, I've found a small smear of peanut butter on the lid of the live-box an extremely effective attraction method.
To clarify, this is what I have used at home. In the fall, my home was invaded by mice. I had no idea where they were coming in. But I was pulling out a mouse per day. I ended up using the mice to help me seal up all possible entry locations. After a few days of filling holes with foam, I started to color the tales of the mice with a green sharpie so I could identify any re-entries...

Anyway, the peanut butter can also help you identify if anything has been captured as they will lick off every last drop once they are locked in with it.

Cheers,
G

Hello,

In the past, I've found a small smear of peanut butter on the lid of the live-box an extremely effective attraction method.
To clarify, this is what I have used at home. In the fall, my home was invaded by mice. I had no idea where they were coming in. But I was pulling out a mouse per day. I ended up using the mice to help me seal up all possible entry locations. After a few days of filling holes with foam, I started to color the tales of the mice with a green sharpie so I could identify any re-entries...

Anyway, the peanut butter can also help you identify if anything has been captured as they will lick off every last drop once they are locked in with it.

Cheers,
G

I agree that this would be a useful attractant, but I think you'd run into major problems in many sites who have a no-nut policy. However, as with many pest control related issues - if it works for you, and there are no contrary regulations to deal with, then go for it!

In practice, I have found that the strong preference mice have for small dark holes will bring them into a trapping box easily enough. Where mice are trap or box-shy, attractants make little or no difference to the box effectiveness.

Since you are discussing bait/catch stations, I have this recurrent problem witn catch stations located inside the production area where they get constantly smashed either by forklift traffic or the pallets. The pest control company place the stattions where they shall be, based on separatin from each other, but do not pay attention to the operational risk that those traps are exposed when placed there, and of course thay are happy re-placing those traps every service visit.

I'm looking for some king of heavy duty guard to put in front on next to this station so they are protected from forklifts. Does anybody knows of someting that is used here in the united stated and where to buy it? I'm looking for something like in this picture, but this particular guard is too long (9 inc Highr x 39 Ind Long) I'll appreciate any help.

If you have a competent welder on staff, you can make your own for cheap using steel plate. I will take pictures and post when I get into work in the morning.

Marshall

Since you are discussing bait/catch stations, I have this recurrent problem witn catch stations located inside the production area where they get constantly smashed either by forklift traffic or the pallets. The pest control company place the stattions where they shall be, based on separatin from each other, but do not pay attention to the operational risk that those traps are exposed when placed there, and of course thay are happy re-placing those traps every service visit.

I'm looking for some king of heavy duty guard to put in front on next to this station so they are protected from forklifts. Does anybody knows of someting that is used here in the united stated and where to buy it? I'm looking for something like in this picture, but this particular guard is too long (9 inc Highr x 39 Ind Long) I'll appreciate any help.

Picture of the coverings we use in the shipping area. 1/4 inch steel plate welded together and then anchored to the floor.

Marshall

Picture of the coverings we use in the shipping area. 1/4 inch steel plate welded together and then anchored to the floor.

Marshall

Thank you. That is exacly what I need, I saw some similar yesterday, but the ones in the market do not look as tought as the ones you made. I'll see if I can get somebody to do it for us.

Thanks again.

Quite welcome. Very simple to construct and as long as the traps stay under the guard, the traps will be safe.

Marshall

Thank you. That is exacly what I need, I saw some similar yesterday, but the ones in the market do not look as tought as the ones you made. I'll see if I can get somebody to do it for us.

Thanks again.

Fixing bait or trapping boxes to the floor with glue causes another hygiene problem - they cannot be moved to clean underneath. I have lifted glued boxes with a screw driver to see a mess of dust and a scatter of crawling insects in the space around the blobs of hardened glue. Attaching them to the wall with a chain or wire is a much better option, besides when you have to replace a crushed or dirty box with a new one glued boxes are a curse.

Never heard of anyone gluing boxes to the floor - is that your idea or the pest contractors?