Bait stations can be built from scrap materials, and you can design homemade stations to fit your particular needs. Make them out of sturdy materials so they can't be easily knocked out of place or damaged. Where children, pets or livestock are present, construct the stations so that the bait is accessible only to rodents. Locks, seals or concealed latches are often used to make bait stations more tamperproof. Bait Station Design Bait stations should be large enough to allow several rodents to feed at once.
Hinged lids provide convenient inspection of permanent stations.
A flat board nailed at an angle between the wall and floor protects rodent bait from non-target animals and allows rodents to feed in a sheltered location. The board should be at least 18 inches long to keep pets and children from reaching the bait. Cut the holes on opposite sides of the station so rats can see an alternate escape route as they enter the station. Stations for mice can be considerably smaller than those for rats. A cigar box about 10 x 6 x 2 inches high, with a hole in each end is ideal for mice.