Quick answer (for BROMA Rat & Mouse Bait Blocks): put 4 or more blocks in each bait station for rats and 2 to 4 blocks per infested area for mice. Space stations 9 metres apart for rats and 3 metres for mice, check them every day, and keep baiting for at least 2 weeks and until bait stops being taken, but never for more than 35 days in a row without checking how the treatment is going. Always use tamper-resistant bait stations and keep bait away from children and pets. Other brands use different rates, so always follow the label on your own pack.
Rats and mice move in fast around sheds, nurseries, chicken coops and the edges of houses. Baiting works when you use the right amount in the right place, keep it fresh and keep it out of reach of people, pets and wildlife. This guide shows you how to use rat bait blocks step by step, including the new rules that apply since 24 March 2026. If you need a pack, our BROMA wax blocks start at $27.50 for 1 kg.
New rules for rodent bait (from 24 March 2026)
BROMA’s active ingredient, bromadiolone, is a second-generation anticoagulant. On 24 March 2026 the APVMA suspended the registration of these products for one year and set conditions for how they are supplied and used. BROMA blocks and grain bait can still be sold and used, as long as the following are followed (they replace any older label wording that disagrees):
- Use bait only in a tamper-resistant bait station if children, pets or other animals could reach the area.
- Outdoors, the station must be tamper-resistant and weather-resistant, secured in place, and no more than 2 metres from a building.
- Do not use this bait outdoors for mice.
- Do not put bait directly into burrows.
- Do not use the bait continuously for more than 35 days without checking the state of the infestation and whether the treatment is working.
- At every visit, search for and dispose of dead rodents (and any slugs or snails in the area) so pets and wildlife cannot eat them. Dispose of them and any uneaten bait following your local, state or territory rules.
- Wear disposable gloves when handling bait, bait stations and dead rodents, and wash your clothes afterwards.
- When you buy, the seller must give you a printed copy of these instructions.
Source: APVMA FAQs on anticoagulant rodenticides and APVMA Gazette No. 5, 10 March 2026 (Attachment 2). The APVMA is also working on making these products restricted chemical products, so the rules may change. Check the label and the APVMA website for the latest.
Signs you have rats or mice
- Droppings along walls, in cupboards, sheds and under sinks
- Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, packaging and feed bags
- Scratching or scurrying noises at night, especially in ceilings and walls
- Greasy rub marks along skirting boards and pipes
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric or dry grass
Before you bait: take the food away
Bait works best when rodents have little else to eat.
- Store pet food, bird seed, chicken feed and pantry food in sealed containers.
- Clean up spills and fallen fruit.
- Close gaps around pipes and doors and tidy clutter so there are fewer places to hide.
Then put the bait out.
Where to place rat bait blocks
These steps follow the directions for BROMA Rat & Mouse Bait Blocks and the APVMA conditions above. Your pack’s label may differ, so read it first.
- Use tamper-resistant bait stations. Put blocks inside a closed, tamper-resistant station rather than loose on the ground. Outdoors, fix the station in place and make sure it is weather-resistant.
- Avoid open areas. Rodents run along walls and edges, so place stations along those paths and near signs of activity.
- Stay close to buildings. Outdoors, stations must be no more than 2 metres from a building. Otherwise use the product in enclosed spaces, such as sheds.
- Mice: indoors only. Do not use this bait outdoors for mice.
- Damp places are fine. The blocks are moisture-resistant wax, so sheds and under-house areas are suitable.
- Keep a note of where each station is so you can check it, refill it and remove it when you finish.
How many blocks per station?
- Rats: 4 or more blocks in each bait station in the infested area.
- Mice: 2 to 4 blocks per infested area.
- Check stations every day and replace any bait that has been eaten.
- If the bait disappears quickly, add more bait stations.
How far apart should bait stations be?
- Mice: no more than 3 metres apart.
- Rats: no more than 9 metres apart.
Use the shorter distances if you have a heavy problem. Outdoors, stations for rats must still be within 2 metres of a building.
How long should you bait?
The directions say baiting should continue for at least 2 weeks to reduce numbers properly, and until bait is no longer being taken. But do not use the bait continuously for more than 35 days without checking the state of the infestation and whether the treatment is working. If you still see rodent activity after 35 days, ask us on 07 5537 4585 or call a pest control service. When the rodents have stopped feeding, collect any bait that is left, wear gloves, and dispose of it following your local, state or territory rules.
Rats vs mice: quick reference (BROMA blocks)
| Rats | Mice | |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 4 or more per bait station | 2 to 4 per infested area |
| Station spacing | No more than 9 m apart | No more than 3 m apart |
| Check | Daily; replace eaten bait | Daily; replace eaten bait |
| If bait goes fast | Add more stations | Add more stations |
| Baiting time | At least 2 weeks and until bait is no longer taken; no more than 35 days in a row without a check | At least 2 weeks and until bait is no longer taken; no more than 35 days in a row without a check |
| Where | Indoors or in enclosed spaces, or outdoors in a tamper-resistant, weather-resistant station within 2 m of a building | Indoors or in enclosed spaces only (not outdoors) |
Common mistakes
- Leaving other food around. Remove food sources, or the rodents will ignore the bait.
- Using too few stations. If the bait vanishes fast, add more.
- Stopping too early. Keep baiting for at least 2 weeks and until no more bait is taken.
- Baiting for months without a check. Do not use the bait continuously for more than 35 days without checking how the treatment is going.
- Placing bait in the open. Use closed, tamper-resistant stations along walls and edges, away from children and pets, and never put bait directly into burrows.
- Leaving dead rodents. Search for and dispose of them at every visit so pets and wildlife cannot eat them.
- Not reading the label. Rates, spacing and where you can use bait differ between brands.
Safety: children, pets and handling
Rodent bait is poisonous. Take these steps every time:
- Keep bait out of reach of children and pets. Use closed, tamper-resistant bait stations that only rodents can get into.
- Keep bait away from food, animal feed and anything that touches food.
- Wear gloves when handling bait, bait stations and dead rodents. The BROMA label says elbow-length PVC gloves; disposable gloves are the minimum under the APVMA conditions. Wash your hands afterwards, and wash your clothes and any reusable gloves.
- Store the pack in its original container, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
- If poisoning is suspected, call a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away, and take the pack with you. For a pet, call a vet immediately.
- This bait is hazardous to wildlife. Search for and dispose of dead rodents at each visit, following your local, state or territory rules, so pets and wildlife cannot eat them.
- Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before you start.
Which pack size to buy
BROMA blocks contain 0.05 g/kg Bromadiolone and are in stock now. Prices include GST. Whatever the pack size, the 35-day limit and the bait station rules above apply.
- 1 kg, $27.50: a home, shed or small garden.
- 2.4 kg, $47.85: a larger yard, workshop or several stations.
- 8 kg, $126.50: farms, nurseries and larger or commercial sites.
- Grain bait, 2 kg, $53.35: if you prefer grain to blocks.
Browse our full Pest Control range. We dispatch from the Gold Coast, and delivery is priced by weight and postcode at checkout. You can also pick up in Arundel. Not sure which pack suits you? Call 07 5537 4585.
FAQs
How many rat bait blocks should I use?
For BROMA blocks, put 4 or more blocks in each bait station for rats and 2 to 4 per infested area for mice. Other brands differ, so check your label.
How far apart should bait stations be?
No more than 9 metres apart for rats and 3 metres for mice.
How long should I leave rat bait out?
Keep baiting until bait is no longer being taken, and for at least 2 weeks, but not for more than 35 days in a row without checking how the treatment is going.
Can I use rat bait blocks outside?
Only for rats, and only in a tamper-resistant, weather-resistant bait station that is secured in place and no more than 2 metres from a building. Do not use this bait outdoors for mice.
Is rat bait safe for dogs, cats and children?
No. It is poisonous. Keep it out of reach in closed, tamper-resistant bait stations, and call a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (or a vet for a pet) if you think it has been eaten.
Does the same bait work on mice?
Yes, indoors or in enclosed spaces. BROMA Rat & Mouse Bait Blocks are made for both. Use 2 to 4 blocks per infested area for mice, with stations no more than 3 metres apart, and do not use it outdoors for mice.
Are there new rules for rat bait in 2026?
Yes. From 24 March 2026 the APVMA suspended the registration of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, including products with bromadiolone, for one year and set conditions on supply and use: tamper-resistant stations, no outdoor use for mice, outdoor stations within 2 metres of a building, a 35-day limit without a check, and a printed copy of the instructions when you buy.
What is in BROMA bait blocks?
0.05 g/kg Bromadiolone, an anticoagulant rodenticide.
What should I do with leftover bait?
Collect it when baiting is finished, store it sealed and out of reach, and dispose of it following your local, state or territory rules and the label’s directions.
Last reviewed 15 October 2026 against APVMA Gazette No. 5 (10 March 2026). Prices include GST and change. Rules can change, so always read and follow the label.