Prebaiting VS Bait Acceptance
Good prebait scatter
Prebait: To acclimate the pest species to the type of food being used as bait. In most cases, this would be clean grain bait (rolled oats). Preferably, this grain would be dyed the same color as the bait, but this is not absolutely necessary. This clean bait is spread in the same manner as the poisoned bait. Prebaiting is recommended when using zinc phospide.
Monitoring bait acceptance.
Bait Acceptance: This is to test the squirrel's acceptance of this "new" type if food. Usually, this test is applied when the green forage begins to turn brown and other seeds and grains become available in the wild.
How to conduct a bait acceptance test:
1. Use the same grain as the toxic bait. Rolled oat baits are common.
Setting out bait acceptance.
2. In the morning, place a tablespoon of clean grain on bear ground near at least 10 active burrows from each plot of land you plan to bait. Try to make sure the burrows are from different systems, meaning the burrow entrances are not connected to each other.
3. Mark the burrows. Flags, stakes, and rocks are common identification markers.
4. Check consumption in the late afternoon on the same day the prebait was placed to avoid including consumption by nocturnal rodents.
5. If consumption is greater than 90%, treatment may begin.
6. If less than 90% was consumed, repeat the process for several days until 90% consumption is reached.
7. If bait is consumed overnight by nocturnal rodents, be sure to replace the clean grain each morning and check it each late afternoon or early evening.
8. Clean grain can sometimes be consumed by other animals, such as cows, sheep, and insects, so be sure to place grain where only targeted animals may access it.
9. Remember: Pile the test grain (non-toxic) so you can see if it is eaten. Never pile the actual toxic bait because that would result in excessive exposure to non-target species.