Mouse trap bait

[Gramps]

What's the best bait for mouse traps? It seems that about once every few years the local mice population wants to be in our house instead of out in the wilds of the mountains. This week I caught 5 of the little bastards using peanut butter but now they are not wanting it anymore. I tried cheese (cheesewhiz). Still finding some droppings.....but not catching any. Yesterday I found that they visited our silverware drawer.........I can't figure out how they are gettin in, all of the water lines and drain holes are packed with steel wool and sealed with silicone. I have throw bags of poison on order to toss under the house but living where we do they outnumber us by a longshot. The cat gets about one a night. I have done the bucket of water with the spinning bottle covered with peanut butter and they are avoiding that..sticky traps are not working either.

 

[Wizard29]

I know you said you've already done peanut butter, but if you haven't tried the crunchy peanut butter with the actual peanut pieces in it, give that a shot. Works every time for me.

 

[elco]

I had good luck with these traps. I used dog food and super glued the dog food into the trap when I noticed the bait missing. Seemed to work really well.

Amazon.com

 

[thedan]

Reese’s peanut butter cups.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Welcome to my nightmare. This year was our first year getting them in the 12 we've been here. With traps, I learned bait isn't as important as placement. Jaws open (on the black plastic type) facing the wall. The little bastards run along them, like game trails. I also had pretty good luck with these.

Bird-X Transonic PRO All-Pest Electronic Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Mouse Trap Rodent Insect Repellent 3,500 sq. ft. TX-PRO - The Home Depot

The Bird-X Transonic Pro Ultrasonic All-Pest Repeller is a versatile way to rid your home of rodents and insects. This compact device features custom frequencies to remain effective against mice, ants,

www.homedepot.com

Point it like a claymore. I have one mounted, pointing through a vent under the house, really seemed to work.

 

[stephenkatsea]

My Dad would tie a small piece of bacon to the bait tray, using monofilament fishing line. Sometimes he’d dab a very small amount of peanut butter on the bacon. He swore that was the best bait ever. Personally, I find tying that piece of bacon to be a big PIA. Small dab of peanut butter, applied with a tooth pick or cotton swab, seems to work well. Less is usually best. The basic Victor snap traps are the real deal. Place them along the base board of the wall.

 

[Lucky Larry]

What's the best bait for mouse traps? It seems that about once every few years the local mice population wants to be in our house instead of out in the wilds of the mountains. This week I caught 5 of the little bastards using peanut butter but now they are not wanting it anymore. I tried cheese (cheesewhiz). Still finding some droppings.....but not catching any. Yesterday I found that they visited our silverware drawer.........I can't figure out how they are gettin in, all of the water lines and drain holes are packed with steel wool and sealed with silicone. I have throw bags of poison on order to toss under the house but living where we do they outnumber us by a longshot. The cat gets about one a night. I have done the bucket of water with the spinning bottle covered with peanut butter and they are avoiding that..sticky traps are not working either.

Fresh strawberries

 

[Gonefishin5555]

Sounds like the cat is your best rodent control tool. I agree with others that placement is most important. I use a bunch of sticky traps

 

[Badchoices03]

I use whipped cream cheese, it spreads and sticks to the trap like peanut butter, I will spread a small amount on the trap itself, then a bigger chunk on the trigger....seems to work well for me.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

If you have chickens maybe some of their feed.

Couple weeks ago i walked in my coupe at 11 at night to see how many mice i had and holy shit!!! It was a huge ball of them. I have whittled the clan down to a handful and kill count is up to 83. And they keep coming back every night for that chicken feed.

 

[angiebaby]

We found they licked the pb off. This is with conventional snap traps. Parmesan cheese, little cut chunks seemed to work. Glue traps are the best, IMO, but my daughter guilted me into not using them because they are pretty cruel. Snap traps are usually quick and deadly. We haven't had an issue until they plowed the field across from us.

 

[ChumpChange]

Reese’s peanut butter cups.

I don’t think there would be much that would make it to the trap.

 

[Badchoices03]

We found they licked the pb off. This is with conventional snap traps. Parmesan cheese, little cut chunks seemed to work. Glue traps are the best, IMO, but my daughter guilted me into not using them because they are pretty cruel. Snap traps are usually quick and deadly. We haven't had an issue until they plowed the field across from us.

That is why I smear a little on the trap itself, it builds their confidence while they are licking it up, then they go for the prize on the trigger, and BAM....

 

[evantwheeler]

This may be common knowledge, but it wasn't to me. When setting any traps, you want to set them along walls or their path of travel. It is recommended to initially set the snap traps dry, un-baited and not activated for a few nights before activating and baiting them.

We had a mice problem at our office, and I killed two little buggers with the electric traps baited with PB. No more droppings. Its crazy how much area these two little bastards were covering!

 

[coolchange]

Wrap snap trap trigger in twine then add pb

 

[outboard_256]

I had this problem but couldn't figure it out myself. Found out they came in through the dryer vent and chewed through the dryer house to gain acess in. I put had traps everywhere and couldn't catch them. Called an exterminator guy and he went up and put his traps down and had this caulking gun filled with some kind of paste. He would just put a little squirt on each trap. Don't know what he was using but it worked. The tube looked store bought, not home made but I didn't see what it said. Caught everything with in a couple of days. The other thing he did was go around the entire outside of the house and fill any gap that was 1/4" with expanding foam. LIke gaps between fireplace and roof or around circuit braker box. He said you would be surprised what they can squeeze through. Also did 2nd floor, said they can scale stucco walls, he has seen it on security cams.

 

[2Driver]

I use a prune in the have-a-heart trap. The best thing I found is to find their route, usually against a wall. Ive caught almost as many without bait if you get the route right.

 

[Gramps]

I use a prune in the have-a-heart trap. The best thing I found is to find their route, usually against a wall. Ive caught almost as many without bait if you get the route right.

a prune????

 

[MCnParker]

Best luck we have had is Peanut butter with a gummy bear or some sort of fruit chew stuck in it. The exterminator said they are attracted to the PB by scent and then pull on the gummy bear to get it out of PB base. Caught 4 in about a week...

 

[Gelcoater]

Here it is, Gramps.

A small piece of cotton string, Kite string,etc. tie it to the trigger then cut it short so no long strands.
Smash some peanut butter into the string, then wipe away the peanut butter leaving only the smashed into the fibers of the string peanut butter.
So there’s not much of a snack there.

They try to tug the string out. BNAG!!

 

[4Waters]

Snickers

 

[2Driver]

a prune????

Yep, sticks well and the smell attracts them. They also last for days unless they sit in the trap and eat it.

 

[Gramps]

starting to bait up for tonights attack.....poison going out also

 

[Mandelon]

 

[Mandelon]

 

[outboard_256]

starting to bait up for tonights attack.....poison going out also
View attachment 1393476

I don't know if you have dogs or cats but I stayed away from poison because if the mouse dies and the dog or cat eats them they get poisoned. Also if the mouse dies in the walls or something they smell and you can't get to them. Maybe put flour on the floor where you know they go so you can see the foot prints later to see the path they take. Then put the traps down. I saw that on Duck Dynasty, haven't tried that.

 

[SoCalDave]

starting to bait up for tonights attack.....poison going out also
View attachment 1393476

Damn Gramps, you making em penutbutter samiches or what.

 

[2Driver]

This is the best poison Ive found. You cant get it in stores unless its a pro pest control store.

I used to have 3-4 mice or pack rats a week in the pool. Now its maybe a few a year. I can go days without anything in a trap now where it used to be each night. No more pack rat nest on the property. We are on 7 acres of natural desert so its a constant challenge.
Just be sure to put the poison in a lockable bait box. A cat would have to eat 20 effected mice to be effected. The poison dehydrates them into beef jerky, so if by chance they die somewhere close its not an issue. Its never been for me.

Contrac Blox

Contrac Blox is a single-feed rodent bait (Bromadilone) that is weather-resistant. Contrac Blox is an excellent clean-out and maintenance bait to control mice and rats, including warfarin-resistant Norway rats. California has placed Contrac Blox in a restricted use category. We can not ship...

diypestcontrol.com

 

[havasujeeper]

Dry dog food works great. Bend the prong in the snap trap so it lodges the dog food tight. Also, never touch the trap or bait with your hands, since it will leave a human scent. Wear gardening gloves to set up and place.

Also, if you have PEX type of plumbing, never use warfarin poison. It dries them out and they will eat right thru your water lines.

 

[SoCalDave]

50/50 dry mix of these two items in a small plastic food storage conainer with a hole cut in the side of it. Corn mix attracts them and the baking soda kills them as mice/rats cannot burp or fart.
Trust me on this.

 

[Gelcoater]

So Gramps.

Our next door neighbor had part of their driveway cut out to get a septic pit installed recently.

We live on a pile of DG, but down about 12-15 ft it’s a lot less D and more or less just G
So jackhammers, big ones! For days!

Needless to say there has been a large uptick in rodents here since.

In the yard mostly but our mouse detector/killer has alerted in the house a few times too.
He’s behind that little door, Man!!!

And it was, dead. In a trap.

Bit she’s been pretty active in the yard too.
One one day and the next day 2 bringing the body count to 3 in under 24 hours.

And a baby bird a day or two after that.
She doesn’t discriminate


I can rent her to ya for a few nights if you want. Cheap

*Disclosure....

If you rent her you’ll need to send the cat on vacation.
Because, again. She doesn’t discriminate.
If it can run, fly, swim, slither or crawl or otherwise evade, she will chase it.
Small dogs will also be chased but not molested, just tumbled a little

 

[TrollerDave]

Try seeds, sunflower or sesame.
Some advice an exterminator told me, was to not set the trap and just have bait. Then they get comfortable with the free dinner and after a couple days, you set the trap. They are cautious but also creatures of habit. But with multiple rodents, they might learn from they’re friends mistakes.

I saw one bucket trap on YouTube where the guy sealed the top with thicker, clear plastic and cut a X in the middle. He used seeds in the bucket and the mice just fell in one after the other. I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[TrollerDave]

This is the video I was talking about.

 

[mesquito_creek]

I am in S. Utah like you and I was a mouse killing machine on peanut butter last month… but the peanut butter stopped working, so the mice must be talking. The peanut butter started getting lizards and I don’t kill lizards, I consider them allies…

 

[jetboatperformance]

I got cute feral Mouzer Kittens for free from the ranch they'll eat any small critter the moves

 

[Gelcoater]

I got cute feral Mouzer Kittens for free from the ranch they'll eat any small critter the moves

Mouzer!
There’s a name I haven’t seen on here in a long time

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Set your traps 90 degrees to the path of travel.

 

[Gramps]

just added these in the house

Set your traps 90 degrees to the path of travel.

east to west or west to east???????

 

[2Driver]

just added these in the house

east to west or west to east???????

That wont do crap. Get the stuff i posted if you want them gone.

 

[Gramps]

That wont do crap. Get the stuff i posted if you want them gone.

thats on order decon makes the wife happy that I'm doing something

 

[Taboma]

What I've learned as a 30 year hobbyist Gopher, Rat, Mice and Squirrel trapper is. The best trapping method you can celebrate, will only work for so long, before you're forced to seek out another.

I've got most every style of rodent trap devised by man, including some really fancy electronic ones. They've all killed rodents, and there's times they've all caught nothing until I changed strategies.
I even setup trail cams on the traps so I can observe their behavior and try to learn from it. I've got videos of very large rats squeezing through cage bars with less than 11/16" bar spacing. It's amazing to watch. Think partially filled water balloon.
Squirrels are the dumbest rodent on the planet, rats the smartest and while some are extremely challenging, others amazingly easy.
Gophers the most confounding because you can't easily observe their behavior. They'll backfill one trap type several times, put in a different trap style and bang, you got it.

Worst mistake I made was using the old Decon one time that actually killed them quick ----- they died inside a wall, started to stink horribly, then a day or two later, walked in and the entire house was filled with freshly hatched flies. Yes, it was really effective, but not even remotely worth the consequences and cleanup.

Try just a teeny tiny amount of any bait, putting to much will provide a great meal, but you want them hungry and in need of food, not stuffed.

Good Luck

 

[stephenkatsea]

I’m starting to believe as each of these very thoughtful methods become less and less successful. . . . . Those brutal, terrible, horrific glue traps become more and more a viable potential method. Just sayin’.

 

[Waterjunky]

Out on vacation around the grand Canyon, I think I had a mouse climb up my drain hose. I have not had mice for awhile in the RV until the second night on the north rim. Of course the wife took out the mouse bag with traps and glue boards before the trip as "they took up too much room" and we didn't need them. I stopped into the everything general store at south rim and found the Libbies were in control. Not only did they not have any traps but I got the snotty "And we don't sell any rat poison either" flicked at me.
Williams has had a rush on them and most places were sold out.

Now that we finally have them set and baited with peanut butter and bacon, I think he found a way out of the RV. No trace for the last 36 hours.....

 

[Dannyo]

This with peanut butter and pieces of granola. Caught 19.

 

[Gelcoater]

I’m starting to believe as each of these very thoughtful methods become less and less successful. . . . . Those brutal, terrible, horrific glue traps become more and more a viable potential method. Just sayin’.

Unless you have a

Once the sticky trap is stuck to their face and you’re trying to remove it...their face turns to

 

[NicPaus]

thats on order decon makes the wife happy that I'm doing something

The feed stores carry Ramik bars. But in 4 pound package. Probably different in your state. But CA law you can't buy the good stuff unless it's 4lbs or more.

 

[85RiverRAT]

Hot glue a piece of dog kibble to the pad and cover in peanut butter. 100%. BOOM! Lick, Lick, SMASH.

 

[Nordie]

I am in S. Utah like you and I was a mouse killing machine on peanut butter last month… but the peanut butter stopped working, so the mice must be talking. The peanut butter started getting lizards and I don’t kill lizards, I consider them allies…

I hit a dead spot like that a few years ago when I had a mouse problem. I switched to Nutella and the party was back on!

 

[toto]

What's the best bait for mouse traps? It seems that about once every few years the local mice population wants to be in our house instead of out in the wilds of the mountains. This week I caught 5 of the little bastards using peanut butter but now they are not wanting it anymore. I tried cheese (cheesewhiz). Still finding some droppings.....but not catching any. Yesterday I found that they visited our silverware drawer.........I can't figure out how they are gettin in, all of the water lines and drain holes are packed with steel wool and sealed with silicone. I have throw bags of poison on order to toss under the house but living where we do they outnumber us by a longshot. The cat gets about one a night. I have done the bucket of water with the spinning bottle covered with peanut butter and they are avoiding that..sticky traps are not working I have a

What's the best bait for mouse traps? It seems that about once every few years the local mice population wants to be in our house instead of out in the wilds of the mountains. This week I caught 5 of the little bastards using peanut butter but now they are not wanting it anymore. I tried cheese (cheesewhiz). Still finding some droppings.....but not catching any. Yesterday I found that they visited our silverware drawer.........I can't figure out how they are gettin in, all of the water lines and drain holes are packed with steel wool and sealed with silicone. I have throw bags of poison on order to toss under the house but living where we do they outnumber us by a longshot. The cat gets about one a night. I have done the bucket of water with the spinning bottle covered with peanut butter and they are avoiding that..sticky traps are not working either.

A friend of mine who owns a pest control company told me to use peanut butter and a small slice of Slim Jim and damn if it didn't work everytime. I have been using it for years

 

[2Driver]

Got this last night for my neighbor, it was in his boulder outcropping. Prune in a Have a heart - every time .