If you’ve found rats inside or around your home, one of the first questions you might have is:
“Can the pest controller still apply rat poison?”
The short answer is yes.
There is a lot of confusion about this, especially regarding CRRU and the rules for using rodenticides. You might have heard that pest controllers aren’t allowed to place rat bait immediately, or that they must use traps first.
That’s not the case.
Professional pest controllers can still use authorised rodenticides to manage rats, including during the initial visit, when it’s appropriate.
The key is that bait shouldn’t be placed without a clear understanding of the situation.
At Bespoke Pest Control, we have a different approach.
We refer to it as SEM: Source, Exclude & Restrict, Manage.
So, what is CRRU?
CRRU stands for the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use.
Rodenticides are potent products. They can effectively control rats, but they must be used responsibly due to the potential harm to pets, wildlife, and other animals. CRRU encourages the responsible use of rodenticides and offers guidance for professionals.
*It doesn’t mean that rat poison is banned.
*It doesn’t mean that a pest controller must capture rats in traps before applying bait.
*You don’t have to endure rats while a pest controller waits weeks to begin treatment.
Instead, the pest controller should evaluate the situation and use the most suitable control measures responsibly.
Can you place rat bait during the initial visit? – Yes, if it’s appropriate.
Suppose you contact us because you’ve heard rats moving inside your walls. We inspect the property and discover fresh evidence of rat activity. We identify entry points and determine that rodenticide is a suitable component of the treatment. We can place bait as part of that initial treatment.
There’s no requirement under CRRU to leave the property untreated just because it’s the first visit. The key is the professional assessment.
We must consider the location of the rats, how they’re entering, whether there are children or pets, the surrounding environment, and which control methods are likely to be effective.
We don’t just use poison This is where our approach differs. If you have rats, we don’t just aim to eliminate the rats present today. We want to understand the reasons behind the presence of rats.
That’s where our SEM comes in.
S stands for Source
Where are the rats coming from?
This is often the most crucial question.
Rats can enter properties through surprisingly small gaps and can travel through drainage systems, voids, gardens, and neighbouring areas.
We look for things such as:
* Issues with drains
* Spaces around pipes
* Holes in walls or floors
* Damaged or missing drain covers
* Food sources
* Waste
* Garden hiding spots
* Building flaws
* Other possible entry points
Sometimes the rat you see in your kitchen has traveled a long distance before it arrived. Discovering the path can be the key to resolving the issue.
E stands for Exclude & Restrict
Once we’ve determined how rats might be entering, we consider what measures can be taken to prevent or limit access.
This might involve sealing gaps, repairing flaws or addressing a drainage issue. The goal is straightforward: Make it more difficult for the rats to enter.
M stands for Manage
Next, we manage the actual rat infestation. Depending on the circumstances, this could involve using rodenticide, traps, monitoring, or a combination of control methods.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every property.
A garden shed with a rat visiting occasionally is quite different from rats living inside a house. We look at the situation and select the appropriate method.
Can bait be left out indefinitely? Generally, no.
There’s a significant difference between treating an active rat infestation and leaving bait permanently available “just in case.” Permanent baiting comes with additional requirements and shouldn’t be used as a regular precaution around a typical home. If we’ve successfully managed an infestation, the goal is to remove the bait and address the conditions that allowed the rats to enter.
That’s why we place such emphasis on Source and Exclude & Restrict.
What about children, dogs, and cats?
This is one of the reasons professional bait placement is crucial. Rodenticide must be placed in a way that minimises the risk of access by children, pets, and other non-target animals.
We also consider wildlife and the broader environment when deciding whether and how bait should be used. The product must be authorised for the specific situation and used according to its instructions on the label.
So, what happens when you call Bespoke Pest Control?
We’ll begin by trying to understand the problem.
*Where are you observing the rats?
*What evidence do you have?
*How are they entering?
*Is there an obvious food or water source?
*Is drainage a factor?
*Do we need to think about children, pets or the local wildlife?
After evaluating the situation, we’ll explain what we suspect is happening and what we recommend. This might involve using bait. It might involve traps. It might require proofing. It might involve investigating the drains.
And sometimes, it will involve a combination of some or all of these methods.
Rat control is not merely about exterminating rats A rat issue can be surprisingly intricate.
You might successfully remove the rats from a property and still encounter the same problem a few weeks or months later if you haven’t addressed the reason they are entering.
That’s why our strategy is:
SOURCE
Determine where they are entering.
EXCLUDE & RESTRICT
Stop or minimize the means by which they enter.
MANAGE
Controll the infestation using the most suitable method.
Rodenticide remains a crucial tool for professional pest control experts, and there are instances where using bait is the appropriate course of action. However, effective pest control is not solely about applying poison and hoping for the best.
It is about comprehending the issue and addressing it properly.
That is the Bespoke approach.
SEM – Source. Exclude & Restrict. Manage.
Stephen Wales – Author & Director
Bespoke Pest Control