As the weather starts to cool off – and in some places, it already has – don’t overlook seasonal shift rodent migration shift.
During warmer months, mice and rats are content living outdoors, especially with plenty of food and cover. But as fall sets in, harvest wraps up, and temperatures drop, food gets harder to find and outdoor shelter becomes scarce. That’s when rodents start looking for a warmer, cozier place to ride out the winter – like your barns.
But here’s the good news: with a few proactive steps, you can make your buildings far less inviting to these unwelcome guests.
Below is your go-to rodent control checklist to prep your barns and buildings for the months ahead:
Fall and Winter Rodent Control Checklist
- Check Bait Stations:
Make sure every station is clean and in good working order. This is your first line of defense. Always ensure you maintain a consistent and fresh supply of rodenticide in accordance with the product label.
- Proper bait station placement
- Mice: Every 8 to 12 feet
- Rats: Every 15 to 30 feet.
- Start early:
When rodents first migrate in from nearby fields, we recommend using Cannon II® Soft Bait for 1 to 2 weeks. This helps reduce pressure before they make it indoors.
- Switch to block bait for the long haul
Once winter sets in, use block baits like BootHill®, Hombre®, Renegade™, Cannon II® or DoubleTap®. The hard edges are great for gnawing and tend to hold up well in colder weather.
- Keep bait soft until it’s needed
Store soft bait pails or bags at room temperature (and safely away from pets or kids) so they’re easier to handle. Cold bait can break when placed on rods.
- Inspect doors and daylight gaps
Walk the inside of your barn during the day and look for light coming through around doors and entry points. If you see gaps, it’s time to replace thresholds. Bonus: sealing these up could help trim utility bills, too. Explore our Xcluder product line for solutions that can help you seal your barns.
- Seal up cracks and gaps outside
Do a perimeter walk around building and look for openings in the foundation, siding, soffit, and fascia. Seal them using our Xcluder products, concrete or metal, which will work best for keeping rodents out. For areas that may shift with temperature and depending on the applications, use Xcluder stainless steel fill fabric and BASF MasterSeal® NP 1™ for a complete seal.
- Keep an eye on cool cells
Once your cool cells are shut down and drained, rodents will use the water troughs/tanks to nest in, which in turn can cause havoc come spring when you un-winterize them. Mice and rats will also chew into the pads from the topside and nest. In these high-moisture zones, we recommend using Renegade Mini Blocks (and always follow label directions).
- Clear the perimeter:
Keep grass trimmed, remove clutter, and maintain a 3-foot rock barrier (using 2 inch or greater rock) to prevent burrowing around and under your foundations.
Being proactive now can prevent costly damage later. For more information, download our Rodent Control Reference Guide.
If you’ve got questions about rodent control or want help putting together a plan for your farm, reach out to Liphatech Ag Team, we’re happy to help!
