As a general rule we advise to store Contrac Blox Rodenticide and other rodenticides at room temperature, out of extreme heat or cold temperatures, to keep the product fresh. The food attractants in the bait will grow stale over time, making the bait less attractive to target rodents, so baits are best used within 1 year of opening. If the garage area is cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight, then this storage should be fine.
Contrac Blox Rodenticide should be applied in tamper resistant stations to avoid non-target animals and children from accessing the bait inside. It is possible that a squirrel could be attracted to the bait for consumption. Although, Contrac is labeled for rats and mice, it could harm a squirrel as well since they are also in the rodent family.
The Contrac Blox come only in buckets technically. You have an 18lb bucket, and then a box that contains 4 x 4lb buckets for a total of 16lbs. Some feel that being able to open each bucket when you need it allows the bait to stay fresh a little longer so some customers will purchase the 4 x 4 containers rather than the one large container of Contrac Blox. As long as the rodents are still going to the bait and consuming it they will continue to die from it and the active ingredient it contains.
Contrac Rodenticide doesn't so much attract rodents from all over as it will target rodents that are already coming onto the property other food sources, nesting supplies or water. Bait stations with rodenticides should be placed on the exterior of the home or within 50ft of the house where the rodents are already traveling. The blend of food grade ingredients will appeal to their sense of smell as they travel along their already familiar path. Use gloves when handling the bait so your human scent does not contaminate the bait and place the bait stations in the runways they are already traveling. Bait should be renewed at intervals of several days. Continuous bait availability (as with anticoagulants) is not required, but bait needs to be present long enough to allow all animals in the area to feed. The amount of bait needed is usually about one-third that used with anticoagulants, since an animal ingesting a lethal dose does not feed again.
You can review how to avoid the most common rodent baiting failures here.
Contrac bait should be stored at room temperature and replaced every 40-60 days in the bait stations because it contains food based ingredients. The bait could mold or sour in the hot or cold months (should be replaced every 30 days during the summer and winter) and may be less palatable to the rodents.
Contrac Blox can be toxic to animals if enough is consumed, although an antidote, Vitamin K1 is readily available from your vet. If you believe your pet consumed any amount of this product, it is important to contact your vet or pet poison control as soon as possible
Contrac Blox Rodenticide is not labeled to treat for chipmunks we cannot recommend it. Please visit our Chipmunk control page.
To our knowledge Contrac Blox are not labeled for Voles. Kaput Combo Mini Blox is labeled to be used for voles and would be a better option when used in bait stations. Voles: Place 1 block in each bait station. Situate bait stations near runways, burrow opening or plants that voles have been damaging. Check placements daily. Maintain a fresh bait supply for 15 days.
There are many reasons why rodents may not be attracted to a bait such as Contrac Blox. One very common reason is that the bait is not fresh; baits should be used within 1 year of opening, and stations should be changed every 30 days for the best acceptance. You should also be sure to wear gloves when servicing bait stations and handling rodenticides. This not only protects the person handling the bait and stations from contaminants and possible disease, but it also keeps human scent and oils off the bait so as not to deter the rodents from it.
It can be difficult to locate competing food sources. Mice will travel up to about 10-20 feet for food from their nesting site, while rats will travel much farther, 50-100 feet from their nesting site. Bait placements should be close enough together to allow easy access to the bait. Keep in mind also that if this is a service call, then you have not been there to monitor the sanitation all the time, so there could be trash or other food sources that have been left out. All food storage areas, food containers, areas around applicances, and trash receptacles should be checked for rodent activity.
If you have used fresh bait multiple times and are unable to locate and competing food sources but still see new rodent activity, then you may want to consider using a different bait. Just like people, rodents can prefer one food over another. Soft Baits such as First Strike have very high palatability and are great to rotate with something like Contrac.
Contrac Blox Rodenticide is not labeled for possums but if they were to eat enough of it it could harm them. It doesn't sound like your stations are secure at all to the ground or to some other structure. You can use liquid nails and affix the station on a 1 x 1 foot paver you can buy from home depot. This well prevent them from being moved. Also, if you make sure the bait is secured on the rods, and the station is secure, it should prevent the possum from being able to work the bait free from the rods.
Contrac Blox Rodenticide should be applied in tamper-resistant stations to prevent non-target animals and children from accessing the bait inside. Although this product is only labeled for rats and mice, it is possible that a squirrel could be attracted to the bait matrix for consumption since squirrels are in the same family as rats/mice.
