PI I lillllll llfMpPWIilpi I I III I 



Figure 2. — Place poisoned baits where rats regularly travel. 



baits should be made into small 

 balls about the size of a walnut or 

 a marble. Care to prevent the 

 odor of the hands from remaining 

 about the baits or the station need 

 not be taken, as rats are familiar 

 with human scent. Sometimes it 

 may be desirable to wrap the baits 

 in a small piece of tissue or waxed 

 paper. This can be done simply 

 by cutting- the paper into 4-inch 

 squares, then folding one square 

 over each bait and twisting the 

 ends. This will keep some baits 

 fresh over a longer period. It also 

 provides a convenient means of 

 handling dry bait mixtures, and 

 affords greater protection to other 

 animals. The main objection to 

 this method is that the rats will 

 often carry the torpedoes, as they 

 are called, back to their nests but 

 will not eat them. When it is 

 desirable that the poisoned baits 



should not be carried away, a dry 

 mixture, as corn meal or a feed 

 mixture, may be used and placed 

 in a shallow tray beneath a bait 

 station. 



PREBAITING 



The most satisfactory results 

 from poisoning operations are ob- 

 tained when areas to be treated 

 are prebaited. This consists of 

 exposing fresh, unpoisoned bait 

 materials prepared exactly as the 

 poisoned baits will be later except 

 for omission of the poison. Pre- 

 baiting will indicate which foods 

 will be most readily accepted, 

 where baits will best be taken, and 

 how much material will be con- 

 sumed at a feeding. Often it will 

 prove satisfactory in stubborn 

 poisoning operations, or in cases 

 where previous poisonings have 



