The present invention counteracts the problem of contamination of water with substances such as toxins and/or active ingredients that are contained in the corresponding bait. It does so by providing a device (1) for holding a bait (2), in particular a bait for rodents, comprising: -a housing part (3) that can be inserted into a manhole (4), in particular a wastewater manhole or a cable manhole, at least one bait platform (8) arranged in the housing part (3) and delimited by at least one through opening (9), through which a rodent can arrive at a bait (2) on the bait platform (8) and/or at a bait (2) held on at least one bait holding device (12) arranged in the housing part (3), at least one closing element (15) which is mounted to be moveable relative to the bait platform (8), wherein the closing element (15) is moved in an open position away from the bait platform (8) in such a way that the at least one through opening (9) delimited on the bait platform side by the bait platform is opened, and is moved in a closed position against the bait platform (8) in such a way that the at least one through opening (9) delimited on the bait platform side is closed.
