Sep 6, 2011 – Small But Still Tamper Resistant?
QUESTION:
I wanted to know if it's legal to anchor and use RTUs for mice outside of a building? I've seen this practice a couple of times now.
ANSWER:
I think we should compare what is legal versus what is advisable. The RTU (Protecta RTU) is legally a "tamper resistant" rodent station, and it meets the criteria for being tamper resistant - sturdy, lockable, with baffles inside, and capable of being secured to the surface. So, since rodent bait labels state only that for exterior use the bait must be within a tamper resistant station the RTU could legally be placed outside. However, for practical purposes it might be better to use one of the larger stations, and I'm not just saying that because Univar makes more profit on larger stations. These small stations could just that much more easily be kicked and dislodged or kicked and have the bait spill out or be stomped on and opened.
Of course, no rodent station is 100% tamper PROOF, and that is why they are called "resistant", and it becomes a judgment call on the part of the PMP to choose the station appropriate for his situation. In fact, a look at a rodenticide label finds the advice that "stronger bait stations" may be necessary where the potential for larger or more destructive animals is there, and where a more aggressive effort might be made to access the bait inside. If this is an area inside a fence line where no children could possibly be and no feral dogs or coyotes are going to roam, then the RTU might be perfectly acceptable.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
I wanted to know if it's legal to anchor and use RTUs for mice outside of a building? I've seen this practice a couple of times now.
ANSWER:
I think we should compare what is legal versus what is advisable. The RTU (Protecta RTU) is legally a "tamper resistant" rodent station, and it meets the criteria for being tamper resistant - sturdy, lockable, with baffles inside, and capable of being secured to the surface. So, since rodent bait labels state only that for exterior use the bait must be within a tamper resistant station the RTU could legally be placed outside. However, for practical purposes it might be better to use one of the larger stations, and I'm not just saying that because Univar makes more profit on larger stations. These small stations could just that much more easily be kicked and dislodged or kicked and have the bait spill out or be stomped on and opened.
Of course, no rodent station is 100% tamper PROOF, and that is why they are called "resistant", and it becomes a judgment call on the part of the PMP to choose the station appropriate for his situation. In fact, a look at a rodenticide label finds the advice that "stronger bait stations" may be necessary where the potential for larger or more destructive animals is there, and where a more aggressive effort might be made to access the bait inside. If this is an area inside a fence line where no children could possibly be and no feral dogs or coyotes are going to roam, then the RTU might be perfectly acceptable.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
