Once people find mice in their homes, the first thing most people will do is get a mousetrap to capture the invader. They set them up in corners or crevices, attach bait and wait. However, while some people can be successful and catch the rodent immediately, it seems that some traps require a little bit more of the waiting game.
So what might be the cause of this delay? If you said the type of bait, then you guessed it right. What is the best bait for mouse traps? There are so many options to choose from. How do you know which ones to choose? This post will let you in on the right approach to catching mice using the right bait in your property whether residential or commercial. Let’s get started!
Types of Mouse Traps
The whole point of using a mousetrap is to either catch or kill mice. Most mousetraps are easy to use and come in different sizes allowing you to decide how you want to deal with the invading rodents. It is essential for you to decide beforehand whether you want to kill or simply catch and release. This will help you determine which mousetrap you should go for. Let’s discuss the different kinds of traps.
Snap Traps
This is the traditional mousetrap that has been in use for a long time. It has proven very effective as far as catching and killing rodents. The setup is also easy, all you have to do is bait the plate before pulling the lever back. The snap closes once the lever is released. Watch your hands when you’re setting up the bait though — it will hurt if it clamps down on your fingers.
Glue Traps
This trap is also one of the most popular and affordable mousetraps in the market. The trap features a material with a strong adhesive on top. A bait with a good scent is put at the center to attract the mice. Once the mice approach the bait, they’ll be stuck in the glue. One downside to this trap is that even though it’s a strong adhesive, it may not be strong enough to trap the mice completely; they can escape.
Electric Traps
Over the years, electric mousetraps have gained popularity because of the instant kill feature. Once the mouse enters the electric zapping zone, a jolt of electric current is administered killing the rodent immediately. It is considered one of the most humane ways of killing mice because it kills the rodent instantly without causing prolonged suffering.
Catch & Release Traps
If killing animals; and in this case mice, goes against your beliefs, then you should consider a catch and release style trap. There are different mousetraps that use this mechanism which essentially involves baiting the mouse inside a cage, locking the entrance, and trapping the mouse alive. These types of traps have enough air holes and space to allow the rodent to move around. You can later release the mouse outdoors far away from your home.
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Best Bait for Mouse Traps
Baits and traps go hand in hand. You might choose the best mousetrap but, without the right bait to lure the mouse to the trap, then the trap is as good as useless. So what is the best choice in bait?
To find the best bait, you need to understand what is available on the property, the mice’s diet and habits. Naturally, mice eat grains and scraps. However, when they’ve managed to enter your homes they’re attracted to high-calorie, sweet food. Surprisingly enough, sometimes the best traps aren’t necessarily even food. Here are some of the best bait for mouse traps.
Food Baits
Nothing attracts mice to the trap more than food, so in order to successfully get mice out of their hideouts to the trap, you ought to use their favourites; sweet and fatty food baits.
However, if you are using a snap mousetrap, then sticky food spreads like peanut butter or jam works well compared to solids. This makes it easy for the mouse to trigger the release mechanism. You could also opt for foods you know they’ll like, such as fruits, chocolate and seeds depending on the trap.
Nesting Material
Soft materials, for instance, cotton wool or yarn can be used to lure and catch mice. If the rodents are building their nests, they often gather soft nesting materials to build their homes and for protection against the cold.
Simply put the materials on the mousetrap and wait. This is particularly helpful during nesting seasons, especially during the fall and winter. It’s also best to place traps with nesting material as bait where you’ve seen a mouse beforehand. There isn’t a smell that’ll really lure them so you’ll have to rely on them seeing it.
Specialty Baits
Usually, food and nesting materials are enough to lure the mice out of their hideouts however, when they fail, you could use specialty baits. These are special baits that were formulated to specifically attract mice. They’re usually found in stores for a reasonable price.
Is Cheese the Best Bait for Mouse Traps?
Contrary to what we have been made to believe; thanks to cartoons, cheese is not the best bait for mouse traps. As much as mice are opportunistic feeders, mice generally are not drawn to cheese and would prefer other types of food. In fact, it is difficult for smaller mice to trigger most traps with a solid piece of cheese getting in the way as bait. Not to mention the strong odour cheese gives off — it repulses their sensitive sense of smell.
However, peanut butter is a good bait for mice. The strong nutty scent attracts them to the trap and even the smallest mice will be able to trigger the bait. Other unconventional baits for mice include sugar-covered cereal, not only are most cereal made with grain products, the sugar will be double effective in luring mice. Sticky candy like marshmallows and tootsie rolls work great as well.
Visit Action Pest Today for More Information
When you’re dealing with one mouse, usually traps are effective enough. However, when there are two, you’ll most likely find more in a short amount of time. They release pheromones that attract mice, not to mention they reproduce fairly quickly. If the mice haven’t been caught earlier enough, you may expect about six more down the road. Complete eradication of mice and other pests is a two-step process. Killing the existing rodents and also finding the source of attraction in your property. If you have your hands full, Action Pest got a solid solution for you.
If you’re dealing with mouse troubles at home, Action Pests offers professional rodent removal services that will not only rid your trouble quickly, but they’ll also work with you to come up with a solid plan. They’ll analyze your home and inform you of any possible entry routes the mice have taken. Once you’ve managed to fix every hole, crevice, or crack you’ll never have to worry about mice ever again. Contact Action Pest today to get more information!
