How to Treat Straw Bales to Prevent Mouse Harborage
- 1). Place a layer of pallets to act as the base of the straw bale pile. Leave a 6-inch space near the middle, where you will place bait stations. The mice will be attracted to the narrow gaps under the pallets, leading them to the bait stations.
- 2). Clearly mark bait stations "Caution: Mouse Bait" or "Danger: Rodent Poison" to prevent people from handling the poison. Place a sealed bait pack in each bait station and position the bait stations no farther than 10 feet apart in the spaces between the pallets.
- 3). Stack the straw bales on the pallets. If the pile is to be several feet tall, leave gaps between bales every few layers and place additional bait stations in the gaps. Make a note of the total number of bait stations and the amount of bait used, as well as the date.
- 4). Check bait stations daily at first, replacing any bait packs that have been eaten. Once the bait remains untouched for at least two weeks---indicating it has done its job---replace the bait packs monthly to maintain effectiveness against new mice coming in from surrounding areas.
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