If children or pets are present during rodent control, what is recommended?

• A. Place traps in accessible locations
• B. Place traps/baits in inaccessible sites or tamper-resistant stations
• C. Use only baits on open shelves
• D. Stop the operation until children/pets are absent

Answer: (B)

When children or pets are present, safety is the priority in rodent control. Using traps and baits only in locations that are out of reach or protected by tamper-resistant stations minimizes the chance of accidental exposure or injury while still allowing effective pest management. This approach embodies careful, risk-aware IPM: you continue to control the rodent problem, but you do so in a way that prevents non-target access.

Placing traps in accessible locations or leaving baits on open shelves would increase the risk of harm to children or pets, which is why those options aren’t appropriate. Stopping the operation entirely isn’t practical while you still need to manage the infestation and reduce risk; instead, adapt the methods to keep people safe, using secure, inaccessible placement.