Mouse Bait

Although not everyone is terrified of mice, no homeowner wants a mouse problem. Once they get in, mice can move throughout out your house, eating your food and causing all sorts of damage. Whether they are snacking on items in your pantry or slowly nibbling away at your walls, you are going to want to get rid of any mouse problem as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is by purchasing some form of trap to capture and/or eliminate the rodent causing the problem. While there are a variety of traps available, they all rely on mouse bait to attract the unwanted intruder.

There are many items you can use as mouse bait, but some have been proven to work better than others. Peanut butter is one of the most widely used items. As foragers in the wild, mice are accustomed to eating various seeds and nuts. Since peanut butter is a byproduct of nuts, mice are understandably attracted to it. Bread is often effective as well for much the same reasons. Grain is already a staple in the diet of most mice, and using bread takes advantage of this. Paying attention to the food items the mouse appears to be eating in your house and then using it as bait is another effective technique.

Once you choose your preferred mouse bait, the next step is to properly use it in the trap you have chosen. When using the traditional spring-loaded trap, you simply place your bait on the trigger mechanism. The pressure the mouse applies while eating is normally enough to activate the trap. In cage traps, you must make sure to place the bait towards the back of the cage. For one, the activation mechanism for many of these cages is located there, and you need the mouse to reach it before the trap will work. Placing the bait at the front of the cage can also become a bit gruesome if the door closes with the mouse halfway inside. Instead of a humane way to remove the rodent, you have created a mouse guillotine.

Regardless of the mouse bait you choose, it is important to remember that proper installation is also key in achieving effective removal of the mouse. While poisoning the bait is an option, it can have unintended side effects. The poison will generally kill a mouse, but it can cause health issues for children and pets as well. Through the proper use of bait and traps, you can safely and efficiently correct your mouse problems.