We have a residential home with 6 of these on the exterior of home. We had the black lid models for the past year and found them to work but a pain to monitor. We use TREX traps in these as we did with the black lid protecta stations we use NO bait block however both will accommodate bait blocks in addition or instead of trex traps. I like to isolate the rodent and discard of vs just seeing bait blocks eaten. With black lid I had spend much more time than the clear lids checking to see if the traps had been set off or needed refilled, etc. I simply use a piece of dog food in the trex trap which is bright enough to see from a standing position 3 feet away from trap. If I can see the brown food in trex trap from 3 feet away I know A. the food is still in the trap and B. the trap has not been set off WITHOUT having to bend down/open the protecta bait station. It takes me now less than 3 minutes to check all of these and less of a jack in the box feeling since before opening it you will know there is a kill inside thanks to the clear lid. While the lid is clear I have to view from an angle to see the food in the trex trap as the clear lid is not see thru in all areas. I assume that is to protect the food/bait blocks from the sun a bit.

We live on a farm, w/ a 12 acre bldng site. Keeping the rodents under control is a constant, year around war, one you never win, just try to keep the enemy's numbers in check. We have dogs, one a new youngster w/ more curiosity than is sometimes good for her. Bought six of these bait boxes to place around the farm yard, in various outbuildings. I'm glad I spent the extra few bucks to get the clear lid...makes checking activity much easier ESPECIALLY since I got ONE key....ONE KEY for SIX BOXES spread over a 12 acre building site. I purchased several other things at the same time, spending a fair amount of money. Sending only one key seems really cheap, enough to make do my rodent control shopping some place else in the future. Had I purchased each box separately, I would imagine I'd have gotten a key with each box, but because I ordered six boxes at a time, I got only one key! Really annoys me!! HOWEVER, the boxes are fine so far. If they're put outside, I place each one up on a large brick/block next to whatever outbuilding, cover it with another heavy brick just to make sure dogs don't mess with it, then stake it down securely. (Had to drill the holes larger to fit any kind of sturdy staking material I could come up with. Kind of a pain, but it worked.) Watch the video on how to use the key/unlock the boxes, and you should have no problem with that. I recommend these bait boxes, and especially the clear lids if you'll be checking for rodent activity often, but I do not necessarily recommend this vendor due to their tight-a_ _ policies. (Thus the 4 stars, not five.)