Pests

All about mice, traps and the best mouse trap baits

"The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.."
- Willie Nelson

Introduction

Having the best mouse trap bait really counts but I also know how bad it feels when you have just bought a new trap, then the spring mechanism breaks because you were trying to set it up using the best bait for mouse traps. I faced this issue first-hand decided to share with people what worked for me. Remember that it does not rally matter whether a mouse is small or big, moreover these devices are made of plastic container which allows mice to enter the mouse bait stations inside and feed while protecting the bait from dust and moisture. In this regard to this, check below some of the best mouse trap bait from our tests, research and analysis.

What Attracts Mouse To House

Mice really love nibbling on food and with a lot of food lying around, you will have a infestation in your house. Secondly your kitchen is an attraction to mice because you will more often find bread, rice, pasta, cereals, vegetables, cheese and many other kinds of food which they love. Like all living creatures, mice also need a warm place to hibernate especially during the winter. Thirdly they many also be looking for a breeding ground, which should be safe from dangers of the wild outdoors. In that case if you see one mouse, chances are that there is a whole family of them being feeling cozy in your home. Start considering buying the best mouse trap and looking for the best mouse trap bait.

Where To Place Your Mouse Trap Baits Station

Firstly you need to check when buying your mouse bait trap whether you can place it in or outdoors, secondly establish the places where their droppings are as well as where their rub marks. Some of these places include basements, storage areas, attics, under sinks, cracks or crevices. This will guide you on where to place the mouse trap station. Mice are known to carry and spread diseases like leptospirosis, hantavirus, salmonellosis and rat-bite fever.​

Mistakes you are making with your Mouse Traps

Have you realized that it can get very frustrating when rodent problems persist. This should be a result of mouse traps and as such, we have narrowed down why this can be rampant. ​​

1. Not using enough mouse traps​

Many of us think that putting out a few snap or glue traps can solve this, but this is not so unless you are dealing with just a single rat that’s restricted to a small area. Experts recommend that homeowners put out up to three snap or glue traps for every rodent present. Which means that if you have 10 mice in your house, you’ll need to use up to 30 snap or glue traps for them to be truly effective. If your do not use this ration then your mouse infestation will increase​

2. Putting the trap in the wrong place​​

Rodents will always side step mouse traps if you put it in the wrong places and so take a look at where your mouse bait stations are placed. Make sure to place your mouse traps about 2 to 10 feet apart, where they are most active. Some of the indoor places include inside cabinets, behind appliances, in corners while outdoors are near bushes and fence lines, along the walls of the patio and near the filter pump of your pool.​

3. Using the wrong mouse bait​

Do you know that some rats are extremely adept to stealing mouse trap food without setting off the snap trap which renders your trap useless. There are also some mice which do not eat cheese, these is common with roof rats, so you really need to target the right bait with the right mice.​

4. Not checking the traps and the mouse trap baits often enough

Mice can easily set off the trap without being caught so check you snap or glue traps more frequently. Snap traps, in particular, may need to be reset as often as once a day. Secondly, as soon as your snap trap and glue traps catch a mice, they run out of commission and thirdly you need to clear your trap so that it can catch more mice.​
Most importantly mice pose great health risk and if they are not controlled, taking action to eliminate this quickly is very important. Just look for common signs, identify this early and ensure you eliminate them effectively.

12 different ways to effectively prevent mice from entering your home​

  1. Cover air bricks and vents especially if damaged with fine galvanized wire mesh
  2. Older properties luck fitting bristle strips to the bottom of doors and this will prevent entry of mice so fix this.
  3. Seal holes around existing or new pipes with coarse grade stainless steel.
  4. Holes often made in exterior walls for cables and pipes, check that and seal them as this is part of what attracts mouse to a house.
  5. Always make sure to fix damaged roofing and use wire mesh to seal gaps.
  6. Make sure to trim tree branches back from the house and where possible avoid plants growing up the sides of your property because they use Vines, shrubs or overhanging branches to get onto roofs. Shelter also offers potential nesting sites so try to clear these.
  7. Leave a gap between the building foundations and the garden to reduce shelter and seeds for food. So in other words, leave your lawns clear and short.
  8. Keep the house and your environment clean and tidy because a messy house gives them plenty of room to hide and be cozy.
  9. Avoid clutter in your home like in garages, and the attics. Firewood stored directly on or against the walls provides an easy place for mice to hide. When clutter builds, it becomes more and more difficult to clean which attracts mouse to a house.
  10. Make sure to secure your garbage and take it out more often as mice gnaw through plastic bags and this presents no challenge to hungry mice. Remember that even the smallest food residue can attract mice. Leaving plates with tiny pieces of food attracts mice avoid this, make sure that all your dishes are cleaned after meals.
  11. Stock up all your leftover foods in airtight containers which prevents mice from accessing them
  12. An old car packed away in the garage without accessing it is a good hiding place for mice. This is because they gnaw up your insulation, upholstery, and wiring — and if they die in your car, you’ll have a tough time getting the smell out as well. So make sure you always open up and clean it.

The Real Secret of How to Set Up a Mouse Trap

Setting up a mouse trap is never fun because you always want to be done with as quickly as possible. Al in all, you need to study the mouse habits and the configurations of the mouse trap you are using. With this in mind and the right settings, your house will be mouse free in no time
Caution:
To begin with, be sure to wear gloves when handling a mouse trap, given that the scent doesn’t compromise your mouse trap bait. Mice will avoid your mouse trap bait and not enter your mouse trap a human scent can be considered as a predator

Tips for best bait for mouse traps

  1. Always place the right amount of food for your mouse trap, which should be a pea-size. If you place more, the mice will get to the bait without triggering the trap. If you place too little the mice will not be able to notice the bait in your mouse trap.
  2. Try baiting the trap with peanut butter or fruit. You can switch mouse bait station or try using glue traps if you have been using snap traps, next replace the mouse trap baits with a new one especially when you see that the trap has been there with no results
  3. The best mouse bait traps should include fresh food, this is what attracts them to a trap. Rotting bait has never attracted mice and this will affect the effectiveness of the mouse trap. Switch and try other types when you are experiencing trouble with a particular bait. and you can also change the mouse trap bait station.
  4. Meanwhile, buy a mouse trap with sensitive sensors for indoor infestations and small mice because the sensitive sensors will counteract the weight of smaller mice. This is because the electric mouse traps are more sensitive than classic snap traps.

Our best mouse trap baits

Peanut butter is a one of the best bait for mouse traps. This is because they smell it from very far, but most importantly it is also a perfect blend of high fat and sugar, which is ideal for both mice and rats.
Raw or cooked meat is a good mouse bait when using snap traps, ensure the mouse applies pressure to the meat in order for it to move, eventually releasing the trap.
Cheese that smells, is equally one of the best mouse bait which makes, the smell reach further than other types of mouse baits.
Cheese as a mouse trap bait
Marshmallows/gum drops, sweet snacks and chocolates are amongst the best mouse trap baits. In other words, their high sugar count, is what makes them effective in trapping mice, so make sure to melt them first before placing them in traps and try different options to learn what works best as bait,

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have proven to be one of the best mouse trap baits to use. You should place some fruit jam on the mouse trap and make sure to also stick some pieces of dried fruit, vegetables like broccoli, carrots and celery. This works well as in enticing bait as mice enjoy the sweet and juicy taste of fruits, particularly strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples and pears. So don’t let mice run freely through your home.

Grains, Seeds, Cereals and Sunflower – Seeds are some of the foods that work great as bait in mouse traps for field mice. The secret to cereal bait is to choose one that isn’t coated with too much sugar.
Nest materials – this works well when the mice approach the trap looking for the material then they get caught because it is one of the materials that mice use to build their nests,
Examples are: * Cotton balls * Dental floss * Bits of carpet * String

Top picks of the best mouse traps

Catchmaster 72MAX Pest Trap, 36Count, White

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