Mouse traps are one of the best methods to eliminate rodents inside a property. When faced with a mice infestation, this device offers a quick and affordable solution to the problem. Traps are usually used with a bait that lures the rodent, so it’s important to use the best bait available to make your trap work more effectively.
So what are the best bait to use for mouse traps? Some of the best bait you can use are food like nuts, fruits, and sweet and salty snacks. Aside from food, you can also use some nesting materials or commercial specialty bait.
Best Bait for Mouse Traps
Mice are known to bring a variety of problems whenever they infest a household. Aside from causing damage to furniture, floors, and walls, one of the main reasons why you want to eliminate a mice infestation as soon as possible is because they carry a variety of diseases. These rodents are known to carry and spread diseases like hantavirus, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever. To quickly remove these pests from your property, you can use mouse traps with an enticing bait.
But before using bait for mouse traps, you have to keep in mind a few tips. First, never handle the bait with bare hands since it can contaminate the bait with a human scent. Mice view human smell as a predator scent, making the bait less appealing to mice and your trap less effective. Make sure to wear some gloves when handling the bait so you don’t compromise its scent.
Another tip is to place just the right amount of bait on the trap: a pea-size amount is enough. It’s important to remember that placing too much bait on a mouse trap allows the rodents to get some of the bait without triggering the trap. On the other hand, the mice might not be able to notice the bait when you place too little.
Lastly, remember to change the bait regularly to ensure its freshness. Rotten food may not be as enticing for mice so it might not work as effectively. You also need to keep in mind that if a certain bait isn’t working, it’s perfectly fine to switch up the bait and see which one works the best. With these tips in mind, here are some of the best bait you can use for your mouse traps:
1. Food
Food is one of the most common baits used for mouse traps. Rodents like mice and rats are always constantly looking for food when they enter your home. However, it’s important to remember that even though these pests feed on almost any kind of food they find, some are more appealing to them than others. It’s best to take note of the following kinds of food and use them as mouse trap baits:
- Nuts: Nuts and its byproducts like peanut butter and hazelnut spread are some of the most effective bait for mice. This kind of food is packed with protein, making it irresistible to the rodents. Additionally, peanut butter and hazelnut spread serve as more effective bait because it has a sticky consistency that takes more time to eat. Its consistency allows the rodent to spend more time on the trap, increasing its chances of being caught and eventually killed. You can also choose to wrap a small piece of gauze around the peanut butter and the trap’s trigger. Doing this catches the mouse’s teeth in the gauze which eventually sets off the trap.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Mice enjoy the sweet and juicy taste of fruits, particularly strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and pears. For an easier option, you can also place some fruit jam on the trap or stick some pieces of dried fruit. On the other hand, some vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and celery also work as enticing bait.
- Grains and Seeds: Grains and seeds also make great baits for rodents, especially if you’re dealing with field mice. Bird seeds attract mice, so this is why you’re more likely to have a rodent infestation when you have a bird feeder in your garden. Cereals and sunflower seeds are also some of the food that work great as bait for mouse traps. When choosing a cereal for bait, try choosing one that isn’t coated with too much sugar.
- Soft Cheese: Cheese is a salty and fatty snack that serves an enticing bait for mouse traps, but using regular cheese isn’t enough to attract the pests. Instead, you may opt for soft cheese with a strong smell like cream cheese, brie, or feta cheese. To use this kind of food as bait, smear some bits of soft cheese on the pait pan so it’s harder to lick clean.
- Sweet Snacks: Mice love sweet smelling snacks like gumdrops and marshmallows. You can make these snacks more effective in trapping mice by melting them first before placing them on the trap. Melting gumdrops and marshmallows makes it stickier so that mice will take more time to eat it. Chocolate is another sweet option for rodent bait; you can try a variety of chocolate and see which kind works the best.
- Meat: Mice aren’t known to feed on meat all the time, so this food isn’t on the top of your list. However, meat has a high protein content which makes it an enticing snack for mice. You can place some pieces of meat like beef jerky or cooked bacon to lure the rodents.
- Pet Food: You can also use your dog or cat’s food to attract mice. To make the bait more effective, you can wet the pet food before placing it on the trap. This turns it to a consistency that’s more difficult to lick clean, increasing the chances of trapping the mice.
2. Nesting Materials
Sometimes, food isn’t enough to attract mice to your trap so you can use other items like nesting materials. During colder temperatures like the fall and winter time, female mice usually look for materials to build their nests and are more likely to approach materials that are easier to source. Rodents that enter your home are looking for ways to make their stay more comfortable, so they may look for the following materials:
- Cotton: Cotton is a one of the best nesting materials to help lure mice. You can tie some cotton balls on the trap’s trigger so that they are forced to pull or gnaw on the material.
- Twine or Yarn: Any kind of string-like material like twine, yarn, or dental floss also attract mice to your trap. To catch the mice, tie some of the string to the trap so the trigger sets off when the rodent tries to grab it.
- Scraps of Fabric: Mice can also look for some scraps of fabric or cloth for their nests so this material can also work well as a mouse trap bait. To make the fabric more enticing, you can place some drops of vanilla extract to coat it with a sweet scent.
- Shredded Paper and Cardboard: Aside from the materials mentioned above, mice also love to chew on paper and cardboard. You can place some shredded paper, cardboard, or even tissue paper on the trap to attract the rodents.
3. Specialty Baits
While the items you find at home already serve as enticing bait for rodents, there are also a variety of specialty baits found on the market. When using specialty baits, remember to carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instruction label before using it. This product is sometimes made with poison, making it dangerous for children and other pets. Here are some specialty baits you can shop for online:
Rodent Control at Midway Pest Management
Using mouse traps may be effective for eliminating mice inside your property, but it doesn’t offer a permanent solution to the problem. One of the best ways to deal with a rodent infestation is to call for professional help. Midway Pest Management helps you effectively eliminate mice with our professional rodent control services.
Our staff conducts consultations and inspections to help you determine which pest control solution is the best for your problem. We promise to offer excellent service to all of our clients in Kansas and Missouri. Call us to know more about Midway Pest Management and the different services we offer.
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