Pulse Baiting for Rat Control
Traps can be very effective for controlling rats around homes and gardens. On larger properties, gullies and lifestyle blocks, bait stations can provide another useful tool, particularly when rat numbers are high or it is difficult to maintain enough traps.
Rather than leaving toxic bait out continuously, it can be used in pulses — putting bait out for a limited period, then removing it before the next round. This reduces unnecessary toxin use, keeps bait fresher and can make ongoing control more manageable.
Pest control in action - possums and rats at a PhilProof bait station. Photo Credit: D Edwards
When to pulse
A useful general calendar for rat control is:
August — before spring breeding and the native bird breeding season.
November — as rat activity and breeding increase.
January — when summer rat numbers may be high.
April — before rats increasingly seek winter food and shelter.
Four pulses a year will suit many properties, although rat activity varies between sites.
How to pulse bait
Use toxic bait only in a secure bait station suitable for the product and target animal.
At the beginning of a pulse:
Wear gloves when handling bait or cleaning and refilling bait stations, and wash your hands afterwards.
Put fresh bait in the station according to the product label.
Secure the bait inside the station where the station and bait are designed for this. This helps stop rats carrying bait away and storing it elsewhere.
Use a bait station designed and positioned so pets, livestock and other non-target animals cannot reach the bait.
Check stations regularly and replace bait as directed on the label.
Remove old, damaged or mouldy bait and dispose of it according to the label.
Remove remaining bait when the pulse is finished.
If bait is disappearing quickly, check the station more often and keep enough fresh bait available for the feeding period specified on the label. Heavy uptake may mean you have plenty of rats, but mice can also use rat bait stations. Rats may also carry unsecured bait away rather than eat it at the station.
The exact timing and amount of bait required depends on the product you are using. Always follow its label rather than relying on a generic refill schedule.
Choosing a bait
Most rat baits used in community predator control are anticoagulants. Check the active ingredient on the label, as brand names alone can be confusing.
First-generation anticoagulants, such as diphacinone and pindone, require rats to feed several times over a number of days. They generally break down more quickly and have a lower risk of secondary poisoning than second-generation anticoagulants, but they are still toxic and must be used carefully.
Second-generation anticoagulants, such as brodifacoum and bromadiolone, are more potent and persist for longer in animal tissue. This increases the risk of secondary poisoning, so they are better used selectively rather than as continuous year-round bait.
Not sure which bait to use? Contact us for practical local advice, or see Predator Free NZ’s guide to common predator-control baits.
Keep baiting safe
Wear gloves when handling toxic bait or cleaning bait stations.
Always read and follow the product label.
Keep bait securely contained inside an appropriate bait station.
Position stations so children, pets, livestock and non-target wildlife cannot access the bait.
Secure bait inside the station where the design allows, rather than leaving pieces that rats can carry away.
Remove old bait and dispose of it as directed on the label.
Where practical, remove poisoned carcasses so pets and other animals cannot eat them.
If you think a person may have been poisoned, contact the National Poisons Centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764 766).
If a pet may have eaten rat bait or a poisoned animal, contact your veterinarian promptly.
Traps and bait can work together
Baiting does not have to replace trapping. On many properties the most practical approach is a combination: traps in frequently checked areas, with periodic baiting where it adds useful coverage.
Every property helps. When neighbouring properties also control rats, those individual efforts add up across a larger area and help reduce reinvasion.
For more detail, see Predator Free NZ’s guides to rat bait stations and predator control on lifestyle blocks.
Originally written in August 2024 with advice from Predator Free Franklin, Auckland Council, Philproof and the late Andrew Styche, DOC community ranger. Updated September 2026 using current Predator Free NZ, DOC and MPI guidance.
