CHRIS THE PADS MUST BE INSIDE THE LOFT AND SEALED, INSIDE A SPUTNIK IS OK, UR PADS ARE SO THE BIRDS DROP IN AND LAND ON OR WALK OVER THE PADS, THERE ARE 2-3 DIFFERENT WAYS, THERE IS THE STALL TRAPS, BUT IN MY OPINION A BIRD DROPPING IN A STALL TRAP ARE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WIRES SO ARE THEY IN THE LOFT, WHEN USING THE RUBBER RING METHOD U LOCK UR STALL TRAP SO THE BIRD CANNOT GET INTO THE LOFT SO AS TO TAKE UR RUBBER OFF, SO I SEE UR CONCERN, BUT YES THE SPUTNICK METHOD IS OK THEY ARE IN THE LOFT DROPPING IN THE SPUTNICK. SORRY I DID NOT KNOW U HAD ETS AND WAS WANTING INFO,