

Rodent FAQ
Q:
A:
d-CON ® is an expert in rodent control, with over 50 years of experience behind every product made. d-CON® has been offering rodent control products longer than any other manufacturer, and consumers know and trust d-CON®. d-CON® offers a solution for every situation - one of them will be just right for ridding your home of rodents.
For more information on how to use d-CON® products, you can watch the "How to" videos which will explain in detail the process for setting the baits. You can also find good information about rodent prevention in the Rodents 101 section.
Q:
What are the different kinds of rodent control measures?
A:
Commercially available mouse and rat control products are effective and fall into two different categories – baits and traps.
Baits are available in a number of formats including meal, grains, pellets and blocks. Baits should be used in low traffic, hard-to-reach areas such as basements, garages and attics. Baits are an ideal way to avoid contact with rodents, because once they've eaten the bait, they leave the area to die, generally going outside to seek water. Baits are safe and highly effective if used according to directions.
Most common rat and mouse poisons fall into the anticoagulant category. These products, long-acting warfarins, reduce the clotting of blood, and result in death from internal bleeding or anemia, usually within 4-10 days.
Traps are ideal for high traffic areas. Three types of traps are used commercially: snap traps, glue traps and live traps.
Snap traps are the traditional wooden design and they are baited with food like peanut butter, nuts or cheese. Snap traps are intended to be humanely lethal, but require disposal of a dead or injured rodent.
Rodents that walk into a glue trap become stuck in the nontoxic glue. Glue traps rely on strategic placement along rodent runways and are thrown away once the rodent is caught. Glue traps are available in covered or uncovered form.
Live traps enable people to catch rodents and release them outdoors, rather than killing them. Live traps are usually used for catching mice and come in single or multi-animal designs.
For more information on how to use d-CON® products, you can watch the "How to" videos which will explain in detail the process for setting the baits. You can also find good information about rodent prevention in the Rodents 101 section.
Q:
A:
If you share one or more of the below preferences, you ARE a Bait User.
• Do you want to avoid interacting with rodents in anyway (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling)?
• Would you prefer not to remove a dead rodent from the trap?
If you share one or more of the below preferences, you ARE a Trap User.
• Do you want to see a "Proof of Kill"?
• Would you rather not risk having the rodent die without knowing where?
• Do you want to know that the rodent is dead?
Q:
How do I know if I have a rodent in my home?
A:
Rodents are nocturnal creatures by nature, which means they rarely surface during the daytime hours unless their environment is disrupted. However, there are some signs you can look for:
1. Mouse droppings, black, typically small (about 1/8 of an inch long). Rat feces tend to be a bit larger.
2. Evidence of recent gnawing, especially on packaged goods, cardboard boxes and areas around pipes, ducts and vents.
3. Your dog or cat pawing excitedly at a kitchen cabinet, the base of your refrigerator or a wall.
4. Scampering or gnawing sounds.
5. Burrows or nests in the ground along the outside of buildings.
Read more about the signs for rodent activity at diagnose your problem.
Q:
Where should I place my mouse trap and baits?
A:
Place traps and baits perpendicular to the wall and in dark corners, such as behind the stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer or where rodent activity is seen. It is wise to set baits and traps simultaneously in various spots in the home to ensure better control of the problem.
Q:
How long do they work? When do they need to be replaced?
A:
Mice are not attracted to old, insect-infested or moldy bait. Inspect often – every few days – and discard wet, dirty or contaminated baits. Check traps every day. Rodents are cunning; if they haven't been trapped in 4-5 days, move the traps to a new location. Some traps are reusable. Refer to the package for detailed instructions. Once the rodent problem seems to have been eliminated, it is best to continue baiting for at least another fifteen days to avoid re-infestation.
Q:
How do I know that I've trapped them all?
A:
It's virtually impossible to tell when you've trapped them all. You should continue to trap as long as you see mice or notice signs of activity. After that, leave traps set in high traffic areas and inspect them periodically.
Q:
How much rodent bait do I need?
A:
Each d-CON ® bait product is carefully labeled in accordance with strict guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Consult the package for specific usage information.
Q:
If my pet eats the rodent bait, could it die?
A:
The risk to your pet depends on what type of pet it is, how big it is, what type of bait it has consumed, as well as how much bait was consumed. If a situation occurs, please consult your veterinarian or call the toll free number located on the package and you will be directed to a specially trained individual who will assist in your next steps.
Q:
If my pet eats a dead rodent that may have eaten d-CON, will it die?
A:
The potential of any secondary poisoning depends on what type of pet it is, how big it is, what type of bait it has consumed, as well as how much bait was consumed. If you are concerned about a possible exposure, you may wish to contact your veterinarian or the toll free number located on the package to be directed to appropriate personnel who can address your concerns. Occurrences of this type of poisoning are extremely rare.
Q:
What are the directions for use for d-CON® No View No Touch Trap?
A:
1. Baiting: On the bottom of the trap, peel back the small self-adhesive label. Apply bait (cheese or peanut butter) to the bait compartment. Reseal self –adhesive label over compartment, and turn trap over (d-CON® label up).
2. Setting: While holding base of trap, twist top cover in clockwise rotation (in direction of arrow) until it locks. A red indicator will show through the hole marked "Set" on the top of the trap. A mouse entryway will open in front.
3. Placement: GENTLY place set trap (d-CON® label up) on hard surface near wall, or in areas where mice are active. For best results, place two or more d-CON® traps 4-6 feet apart where you see or suspect mice.
4. Disposal: Check trap frequently. When mouse entryway is closed and red indicator shows through the hole marked "Mouse Caught," dispose of the entire trap.
Note: If trap is accidentally triggered, a red indicator will show at the ‘Not Set' position. Repeat the instructions at Step 2 ("Setting") if this occurs.
To know more about the directions for use, check out the video.
Q:
What are the different kinds of traps sold by d-CON?
A:
d-CON ® traps include the traditional Wood Snap Trap, Ultra Set® covered trap, Flat Glue Traps, and the innovative new No View, No Touch™ traps. All traps are safe to use in easily accessible areas and offer visual proof that the rodent is captured. d-CON® No View, No Touch™ is a unique, award-winning mouse trap. It delivers on a "no see, no touch" promise with effective and efficient killing performance.
Q:
How do I get improved performance from the d-Con ultraset trap?
A:
d-CON ® Ultra Set®, covered snap trap, is safe and easy to set. To ensure good performance, before setting the ultraset trap, it needs to be placed on a flat surface. For the trap to work properly, it is also essential that you do not over-bait. An amount of peanut butter the size of a large pea (1/8 teaspoon) is recommended as bait. It is important to place bait only inside the cup and avoid the surrounding parts of the Ultra Set Trap.
Q:
What are the different kinds of bait products that d-CON® offers?
A:
d-CON ® offers a full range of bait products to suit different usage situations. Ready mix bait bits are the perfect solution if you don't want to come in contact with a rodent. d-CON® place packs provide a mess-free way to kill rodents in hard to reach places using bait pellets. Bait Paste Pouches are moldable and fit perfectly in damp, small & narrow spaces. d-CON® Bait Blocks come in packages with 8 ct and 16 ct water-resistant bait blocks, so they can get in small, damp areas of your home. d-CON® Wedges comes in 1.5oz and 3oz packs. They work well in hard to get to areas.
Q:
Should I broadcast the pellets?
A:
No, you should not broadcast (spread the loose pellets) the bait. If desired you can tear a corner on the bait pack, otherwise just place the pack in the desired location. Do not scatter the bait.
Q:
What's the best way to bait?
A:
You should begin baiting as soon as you detect a problem. Put bait in areas where you notice or suspect rodent activity. Mice tend to travel only 10 to 30 feet from their nest, while a rat's home range is 25 to 150 feet. Be sure to keep bait fresh and dry, and get rid of any old or contaminated bait.
Q:
Why are d-CON® Bait Paste Pouches™ a good solution for your household?
A:
• Their flexible material lets you put them out of reach of children and pets in the smallest crevices and cracks.
• Mice take the bait and then leave.
• d-CON® Bait Paste Pouches™ are enticing to mice.
• They are moisture-resistant, so they're perfect for use in damp environments and humid climates.
Q:
What is the EPA's Risk Mitigation Decision (RMD)?
A:
The EPA's RMD is a set of recommendation that could result in the removal of the most effective rodenticides from the consumer market and severely limit the rodent control options available to consumers. Conforming with the RMD was voluntary. d-CON ® has long maintained that based on public health concerns, the EPA should not disallow consumer use of the most consumer-preferred rodenticides on the market.
Q:
How is d-CON affected by the EPA's RMD?
A:
A recent court ruling determined that EPA may not use enforcement actions to compel rodenticide manufacturers to conform their products to the RMD. d-CON has chosen to continue to offer for sale its 4 most popular loose bait rodenticide products. All 4 of these products remain fully registered and can continue to be sold at retail without restrictions and can be used by consumers in accordance with their current labels.
Q:
Is d-CON the only rodenticide brand affected by the RMD?
A:
EPA's RMD addressed all consumer-use rodenticide bait products, including retail products, products used by professional exterminators, and products used for pest control in agricultural settings. The most significant impact of the RMD is the Agency's call to end consumer access to any rodenticide containing a second generation active ingredient and any product that is sold in loose-bait form. d-CON has chosen not to voluntarily withdraw its 4 most consumer-preferred rodenticide bait products from the marketplace because the public health risks caused by rodents could become significantly worse if effective and affordable rodenticides are removed from consumer use.
Q:
Why did d-CON choose to not comply with the EPA's RMD?
A:
d-CON did not voluntarily conform with the recommendations in the RMD because we believe removing loose baits from consumer use would make rodent infestations more difficult to control and this could pose many more public health risks. Under the RMD, consumers would have to choose between less effective rodenticides (to which mice and rats have shown resistance), which could result in increased incidence of rat infestations and greater risks of rat bites. Consumers also might use more potent rodenticides that have no known antidote, which could increase the risk of serious harm and potentially death if these products are used improperly. This is particularly worrisome in communities where consumers may not be able to afford the expense of professional exterminators.
Q:
When does d-CON anticipate a resolution to this situation?
A:
d-CON does not expect a resolution to this matter for at least 18-24 months. While d-CON continues to work with the EPA through proper channels, its market-leading products will continue to include the same effective ingredients.
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