Mouse Keeps Eating Bait Off Traps: Here Are A Few Ideas to Try!

Few things are more frustrating than finding a mouse trap that hasn’t been sprung but all the bait is gone.  If your mouse keeps eating the bait off of traps without getting caught then here are a few things for you to try.

Consult with rodent extermination experts now to know what to do if things get uncontrollable!

Change the Bait on Your Mouse Trap

A lot of folks start out baiting their mouse traps with cheese.  The problem with cheese is that it is pretty easy for a mouse to snatch the small piece off of the trap.

Try using peanut butter as bait.  Peanut butter is sticky and has to be consumed on the trap.  There is no way for a mouse to steal this sticky treat that is spread all over the trigger pad.

Another idea is to use bait that can be tied onto the trigger.  You could take a mini-pretzel or a piece of sardine and easily tie it to the trigger pad.  If the bait is tied securely to the trigger then there is no way for the mouse to eat it without setting off the trap.

Change the Type of Mouse Traps

There are lots of different mouse traps available and maybe you just haven’t found the right one.  I have found that the most effective mouse traps can vary from situation to situation. You have to assess the situation, how many rats do you think pest your home? Can rats chew metal steel? Where are the rats hiding?

If you have been using traditional snap traps then take a look at these options instead.

Pre Baited Mouse Traps

If you want to stick with traditional snap traps then the simplest solution is to switch to the pre-baited mouse snap traps by Victor.

The trigger pad on these traps has a bait scent blended into the plastic that attracts mice.

The mice simply cannot eat the bait off of this trap since the bait is the trigger itself.

Electric Mouse Trap

With an electric mouse trap, you place the bait inside the trap.  When a mouse enters the trap its feet will come into contact with two metal plates that complete a battery-powered electrical circuit.  The mouse gets zapped by a few thousand volts of electricity and dies.

A tip I learned about this style of the trap when I was experimenting with electric rat traps is that if you place a damp paper towel in front of the trap that will get the mouse’s feet wet and make sure that it gets killed instantly.  Because of how quickly a zapper kills a rodent they are considered the most humane option for dealing with mice.

Cube Trap

With a cube trap, the bait does INSIDE the trap.  The mouse enters through the front door and eats the bait but because of the door design cannot leave the way it came in.

You can then take the captured mouse outside and release it or kill it by dropping it into a bucket and whacking it with a hammer.  This is the style of trap I recommend for folks that have mice in their bedrooms.

Bucket Traps

Bucket traps work by getting the mouse to fall into a five-gallon bucket.

You secure a bait to the end of the plank and when the mouse reaches it the plank collapses.  The mouse falls into the bucket and the plank resets itself.

The beauty of this type of trap is that it can catch multiple mice in a single night.

You can leave the bucket empty if you want to use this as a live trap or partially fill it with water if you want the mice to drown.

About Author

Noah Thompson

Noah Thompson is an expert in rat relief, providing invaluable tips and advice on effective rat control. With extensive knowledge in rodent behavior, he simplifies complex concepts, empowering readers to confidently tackle rat infestations. Through workshops and seminars, Noah equips communities with practical skills while advocating for humane treatment and control of rats.

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