Rats In The Stables

Horse stables can extend to many acres, however if a rodent problem is causing both health and aesthetic issues, it may be time to ditch your traps and call in the professionals.

While horse trainers and owners are not unaccustomed to seeing rodents in a stable environment, what with the abundant straw and open-air structure, the amount of rats taking up residency can cause health and aesthetic issues if the numbers continue to grow.

Although stable properties can extend to many acres, the real focus needs to be on the actual stable buildings, including roof spaces, stalls and drains.

Stable properties can suffer from sanitation issues, however if the straw is cleaned and changed regularly and offices are clean and tidy, then you can be assured that as the stable owner / manager, you are doing the required amount to reduce the chances of your stable becoming the target of an infestation.

Unfortunately, clean stables do become welcome refuges for rodents due to the shelter and food that they provide. When doing corrective baiting in places where there is so much food competition already, it is common practice to mix baits together thus ensuring the best possible results in the least amount of time.

Low-profile baiting stations are used thus ensuring that the horses do not come into contact with the poisons used. The design of a low-profile unit also means that they can be placed in tight spaces, including between the horse stall bars and window wells.

Snap traps are also useful in these situations, and a bait combination of chocolate and peanut butter seems to go down a treat. By placing the traps on rat tracks, rub marks and other telltale signs of rat infestations will ensure the best success rate.

If the traps are being placed within the roof spaces of the stables, it is important to ensure that there is no risk of the trap falling down onto the horses below and spooking them. Strong teeth and keenly balanced trap ensure that the rats will be held in place, even when perched on a beam.

Installing perimeter trapping systems ensures that should any rats return to the stables following the original knockdown phase, they will quickly be identified, and further steps can be taken.