How to Attract Mice To Your Trap In A Nutshell:
- Test using different bait.
- Use gloves so they can’t smell humans around the trap.
- Check all traps daily; don’t leave a dead mouse in a trap longer than a day so as to avoid decaying smell which can put mice off.
- Place traps near mice activity i.e. mice runs
- Identify mice runs by using a camera trap
The answer to this question is a bit of yes and no, actually. If you have a mouse infestation, then setting traps will mean that mice will be caught in the traps. Will the mice become wise to the fact that every mouse that has mysteriously disappeared, coincidentally entered a mouse trap?
No, they are not that smart, but they may start to avoid traps for other reasons. If this happens, it can appear that the mice have figured out what happens to any one of them who enters the trap. The truth is usually more down to earth.
Mice have a very keen sense of smell. If they start to avoid traps, it could be because they sense a human smell around the trap. That is why it is always best to wear gloves when handling mouse traps. You also need to clean the traps thoroughly.
When a rodent is killed by a mouse snap trap, or an electric mouse trap, if the mouse lies for perhaps a day or so before being removed, the smell of the dead mouse can be very strong to other mice. When you bait the trap again, other mice may sense the dead mouse smell and be repelled by it.
This is one reason why some people think mice are very smart, and can work out that mouse traps are dangerous things for them. It’s actually more likely that they sense the build up of the smell of death on the trap, or the build up of a human smell through repeated handling. They will likely not know that the trap can kill them, just that a dead mouse was there, or that a human was there, and they would rather not be there.
For this reason, humane mouse traps work extremely well. Mice dribble urine almost constantly. The smell of mice urine is reassuring to them. So, when a mouse is caught in a humane trap, it will spend the time trapped dribbling urine from time to time.
If you subsequently release the mouse and refresh the bait, then when another mouse comes along, it will smell the urine. The mouse will think that if the first mouse was happy to spend time in the trap, there can’t be a problem, and it will happily enter the trap, only to be caught.
Another possible reason why some people think that mice can grow smart about avoiding traps is simply that they don’t position the traps where there is the most mouse activity. They may also not use a bait that the mice are enticed by. So, when you know there are plenty of mice in your home, but they are not getting caught in the traps you have laid, it’s easy to think they know how to avoid traps that will kill them.
The answer here is obvious.
- Work out where the best place is to position the traps – mouse runs.
- Use a bait that the mice will find irresistible, and you may have to experiment with this.
- Clean the traps thoroughly or throw them away after each use.
- Only handle the traps wearing gloves.
- Learn everything about how to get rid of mice and the mice will be caught in your traps.
However, if did want to read about how clever they are in general, then this what was written by some neuroscience researchers.
There is a mouse or 2 in my home that they keep avoid touching my traps as i saw in my camera. I have tried snap trap(2 types), electric trap, glue traps, d-con covered no see trap, ..etc
I set the wooden snap trap 2 months ago in the basement and didnt realized there were two caught two weeks ago, and one in my kitchen got triggered but didn’t caught any. I then found a hole and blocked it. So now it looks to me only 1 mouse left. May be it saw his families got killed and he also triggered one snap trap so that now he is very smart. Yes, i also started to wear glove but still cannot catch it.
May be these past 2 weeks i kept changing traps every 2 to 3 days that he always felt no time to adopt to new object. I am thinking to set out all of these new traps at the same spots for weeks to see if it works better. Any idea please let me know.
Yes, i have tried traditional peanut butter, chocolate, bacon, cereal, and victor special gel…etc.
I am also think mouse trap bucket, the one fill with water and mouse would drop into the water when they walk to the top.
You could try laying out your traps with bait but not setting them so the mouse will get used to them being there. Once it has started eating the bait (as seen on your camera) then you can set them.
I am currently using Victor original mouse traps baited with peanut butter. They are so sensitive that they go off like three times just trying to set them down but mice are licking them clean without setting them off. I tried using cotton balls caught one but no more so I tried tying cotton balls over small amounts of peanut butter and all four had been set off and licked clean but no mouse had been caught. I think I have super smart mice. I found two baby mice in a return vent and can hear them on the far side of my attic where I can’t even reach to set traps. I don’t know what more to do. I tried an exterminator he just put poison around (also using gloves) but the mice avoid it. I’ve also tried glue traps, electronic repellants, and various plastic traps, I’ve caught like 6 mice but every trap I try that is successful only works once, they figure it out, lick it clean and it never works again. I’m out of new kinds of traps, any ideas?
Are you sure it is mice licking your traps clean? A mouse trap won’t trap a rat. Invest in a rodent camera trap and see exactly what’s going on.
I have set mouse traps in my garage. Today I found a dead mouse lying next to the trap. Not in it?
Well done. I assume the trap had been sprung?
I live in a very old house and have battled mice for years. I have finally found an excellent way to catch mice. I place three traps in a row where I know they run. I don’t bait the trap or worry about gloves or anything like that. I used to watch mice run along the wall and jump over the trap. I do know that 90 percent of the mice I catch are caught in the middle trap. I believe that I am winning the battle.
Excellent tactic. Well done and thanks for sharing.
I caught 4 mice in a 12 hour period, do I keep putting glue traps or will they communicate to each other not to go in that house. Also can mice come in from a sump pump hole?
Yes keep putting down traps until all signs of mice are gone. I would assume they can come through the sump pump hole.
We have a mouse 1 that we can seeat least and have 3 traps. He actually left droppings on top of the one. And its on top of the kitchen counter in the corner.but wont go near the inside of it. How do we get rid of this one?????
Set more traps, use a combination of different types of traps. Experiment with different baits. Don’t leave traces of human scent on the trap – wear gloves when setting them.
I (with the help of an exterminator) have caught 5 mice in the kitchen/ pantry this summer. Everything is sealed but I am still seeing droppings. We have bait stations, snap traps and glue traps with no luck. I have peanut butter scented glue traps. They’re all over. Any suggestions?
Think like a mouse. Either you’ve missed a hole and they are still coming into your kitchen or there is a nest in your house. Remember that it is in the exterminator’s interest to make sure you have an ongoing problem. I suggest you check and double check there are no holes. They can get in through very, very small holes.
So after I catch a mouse and pitch it. How long should I keep other traps around the house if I see no more ‘mice’ activity
Probably 1 – 2 weeks.
Should I wash the trap after it’s killed a mouse before using it again and if yes, how?
What about washing the surface if there was no blood?
Is anything in particular that you’d recommend washing with?
Thanks
If you are using a snap trap, to avoid spreading diseases, I would dispose of the rodent and trap together. However, if you did want to wash a snap trap, then place it in boiling water for one minute. Do not use any detergents because they leave a scent.
Thanks Simon.
How about the floor – what would you recommend washing that with?
For the floor, I would use a detergent that kills 99% of all germs/ bacteria. Ideally, you want to use bleach but whatever you use, test it on the floor to make sure it doesn’t damage your floor surface. Test it in a small area out of direct line of sight.
My answer to, “How do you catch a smart mouse?” would be to get an even smarter cat! LoL this really is the most humane way to catch & kill rodents as it’s the circle of life continuing on as it should and if you’re lucky enough, the cat will just take it’s “kill” outside to bury (or whatever it is cat’s do to celebrate a successful hunt, lol) & ypu won’t find a dead fury little “gift” in your shoe. If you do find the cat’s kill don’t be too hard on your cat, he is only trying to make sure you’ve got enough to eat. We are all just silly humans in his mind, lol.
I have a mouse in my house maybe more I have like 5 mouse traps I put peanut butter on them that didn’t work I seen on the internet to glue dog food so I glued cereal on it didn’t work I can’t afford expensive things I seen where it said about those things that you plug in the wall I like to know if that would work
Beverly,
If you are doing everything which is listed at the bottom of this article, then all you have to do is set more traps. If not, read it again and follow the instructions.
Simon
I’m trying to catch this one mouse who has been messing with me for about a week. We have poison traps in the oven because we found mouse droppings in there, but the mouse avoids it and leaves the oven through a hole at the top where the burners are. Last night it ate dried noodles, so I put a toilet paper roll with some Ramen inside on the edge of the counter and a trash can under to catch him when he fell in. He pushed the trap into the trash and ran away. I watched this happen. Every night this mouse runs around between midnight and 6 am, then all is quiet until the next night. He snaps the snap-traps without getting caught in them too, then steals the bait. My boyfriend wanted to kill him at first but I kind of think it’s a bit funny now, and I just want to let him go a few miles down the road. How do I catch an uncatchable mouse??
With persistence. You don’t want mice running across your kitchen tops or ovens because as the run around, they urinate to leave a trail for other mice to follow. You can try fixing the traps to an immovable object and gluing or tying the bait to the trap.
All of a sudden In two days I have had mice that are able to eat peanut butter off of five different snapping traps of two different brands without setting off the traps and I have checked to make sure that the traps are very sensitive when set. They seem to be getting smarter .
Try a more solid bait and tie it to the trap.
Simon
I use snap traps baited with smoke preserved salami (North European style salami – further south they often preserve them by drying). The mice seem to be crazy about the strong smell – once it took me only 15 minutes from spotting the mouse and setting the trap till I got it.
I have never worn gloves or washed a trap, so I guess I either smell nice to mice or the strong smoked salami smell overpowers my scent. When sitting still I have had them come in to about a foot from me.
I have absolutely nothing agaisnt killing them, but I think its unethical to make them suffer more than neccesary, so for me glue traps are out of the question. Snap traps should do the job efficiently with little or no suffering.
I few times I have had martens invade – they certainly take care of any mice fast, but they are more noisy and messy than the mice – and unlike the mice they cannot be hunted in their breeding season.
I dont get why you would use plastic for snap traps – the ones I use have a wooden base, which I think is more durable and cheap.
Thanks for sharing your mouse trapping experiences. The smoked salami bait sounds interesting.
Simon
smoked mackeral also works great. it always work. I guess it has a srong fish smell…!!!
I had a couple of mice in March and used the Tomcat kill and contain traps because I don’t want to see the mice. I was able to catch 2 using some goat cheese in the back of the trap where the bait station is. I had a 3rd mouse a week later and the trap did not work. When I put the trap out, I put peanut butter in the bait station. After the first night that it wasn’t caught, I put some cheese at the entrance of the trap to entice it to go inside. I did this for 3 or 4 nights and the mouse never got caught! It must have left and died somewhere else. A few months went by and now I have another mouse, and even though the previous trap I mentioned was still there, I put a new one out just in case the other one was defective. I put peanut butter in the bait trap and also dribbled it inside in the front and put cheese at the front too. It ate the cheese last night but again did not go inside! I wonder why I was able to catch 2 so easily and now they aren’t working.
The mouse may be able to smell your scent on the trap. You could try putting more traps out?
Are you wearing gloves? If not you are wasting time. Also glue down bait with a glue gun. I catch one a night. As mentioned above. Glue traps should be illegal! I caught one that way. Now I have nightmares thinking of the poor creature I treated so terribly. Glue it down and you will catch them fast. Also use dog food. They love it 😉
I have had a mouse problem since January 2018. After living mouse free for 12 years in this house. First I heard scratching in the walls and under the floor boards. I bought some humane traps and placed them where there were signs of movement. Baited with bird food they worked really well and I caught 200+ mice to mid April. I thought I had won but now the mice are taking the food and getting out of the traps?? Can they learn to escape traps?
Hi Jill,
They are pretty clever and I wouldn’t put it past them, but it’s more likely there is a problem with the trap. My question to you is, if you’ve caught 200+ mice, how are they getting into your house?
Simon
My Mother in law found some mouse droppings in a drawer. I bought a bait station from screwfix ( peanut butter smell and flavour apparently)and put it behind the plinths of the kitchen units on the floor, and put the plinths back for safety.
Today 4 days later on 15/01/2018 I checked to see if any bait was taken.
I was amazed to find that the tunnel through the bait station had been blocked solid with debris ie tile spacers, strips of tile cement, and bits of plaster board.
The intelligent mouse or other unknown creature had effectively made the bait station safe as if “out of bounds “for its self or others. No bait was taken.
Has any one else experienced any thing like it.???
I wish I had photographed it, I will check again in a few days if the same happens I will submit photos as well.
Richard
That is a very interesting story. Please do take pictures and send them to me the next time you see this. I will post them in this article.
Simon
YES! Exactly my problem NOW!? Did u EVER figure out WHAT rodent it was? I am thinking maybe a squirrel & just SO OVER IT (trying all types of traps EVEN small game hunting traps only for the animal to fill them- totally avoiding getting caught!!) We can hear noises more & more at night, appearing as though the animal is getting more & more brave each passing day & am getting extra concerned! ? ANY help is GREATLY appreciated, THANKS!!!!!
Hi Christina,
To identify the culprit, try using a camera trap. You can have a read about them here:
https://www.pest-control-products.net/2761/reviews/wildlife-camera-trap/
Simon
I’ve been dealing with mice for the past few months at my house. I’ve seen droppings in our closets (no clue how they got in there!!) in the past but most recently noticed they’ve been in our kitchen. I saw one go into our oven (SO gross!) so I set out the snap traps. Those did not work so I moved on to the sticky pads and left them there for three days and finally got not one but two! So exciting but creepy.
I went to the store to get more pads just in case and sure enough, I’ve caught six within the last month! Unfortunately, I live across the street from a large pg&e field, and it’s a very “woodsy” neighborhood so I’m sure these little ones won’t be the last. Sticky pads work the best, we just make sure to kill them before disposing so they don’t suffer to long!
-Kirsten
Hi Kirsten
Thanks for your feedback and well done in trapping so many mice.
Best
Simon
Hello, good feedback here and I’m learning a lot here Simon. Thanks for tips I haven’t found one mouse a week ago and he hasn’t returned or left any sign. No poop, no wall gaps nothing. Any possibility it can get on through the AC? It’s a box unit sticking out of the wall but in the 2nd floor.
If there is a hole about the same diameter as a pencil, then a mouse can get through it. Therefore, be very diligent when looking for gaps and be careful where you stick your pencil!
Best
Simon
Got a few mice again. Seems when we get a good spell of rain they always come.
Snap traps triggered but no mouse. Even to the point one trap was literally 10 feet from where it was set. I know that one was hurting when he escaped.
So I set glue traps. Next morning had 1 in glue trap and 1 in snap trap. Evidence shows we have at least 1 more to contend with.
Currently have the old bucket trap, 3 glue traps and 4 snap traps deployed for the special ops critter.
Wish me luck cuz he is eating bread faster than we can bake it. ( JK we buy it)
Walt,
Congratulations on your success to date. Let us know how you get on with the remaining one.
Simon
HI Simon,
Thank you for your response.
There is a stretch of rotten 1″x2″ that sits behind the bottom edge of my cedar shingles on the bottom row. That will be repaired soon, but I am not sure that is where they are getting in. They would have to work their way up through the inside of the wall and find a crack into the attic. I guess that could happen.
I heard them on my porch roof a few nights ago. Set up Snap-E Mouse traps and one live trap. They ignored the snap traps as usual but checked out the live trap. I am so upset with myself because I didn’t follow the advice to leave the live trap unset for a couple of nights first. The mouse tripped it from outside and will be reluctant to go near it now. Big-time missed opportunity.
This morning I put more traps in the attic. I cooked up bacon and wedged tiny pieces into the little bait basket on seven snap traps. Just for good measure, I left a home-made live trap with Nutella up there too.
If this doesn’t work, I may resort to Old Cobblers Farnam Just One Bite. It seems to get the best overall reviews on Amazon. I hate to use poison, but this has gone on for too long. I have read that powdered cement mixed with cornmeal 50/50 kills mice as well. Not sure that I want to experiment without knowing they will eat it and that it will really kill them.
Thanks again for your response. I would appreciate any additional comments or advice. I will be sure to post new developments.
Thanks Again,
diane
Hi Diane,
Thanks for the update. Just keep thinking like a mouse and I’m sure you will get rid of them. Remember they can get into your house through the smallest of holes, so check and re-check where they can get in. Are you sure it was mice on your porch roof? I would look at how and why they are getting up there and try to stop it. Was it mice or was it birds or another animal?
The other thing you can do is get a WiFi camera and watch their behavior. Cameras have night vision and are not very expensive nowadays.
Simon
HELP!!
I killed two mice with snap traps up in the attic in October. Noise stopped so I thought that was the end of it. Noise started back up in late November. I think it is just one mouse, as I only hear one sound at a time over my bedroom, where the roof is very low and difficult to access in the attic.
A plastic Tomcat snap trap was triggered and broke with no dead mouse. Now the little monster seems to know that traps are dangerous. I bought an Atomic Barbie live trap. The design is good but the mesh is not substantial, so I added stainless steel mesh all around it to ensure it doesn’t eat its way out. I smeared a piece of cardboard with leaves and put it on the floor of the trap to make it smell natural. I even put the trap inside a cardboard box with the entrance sticking out a bit and the top cut off, as that trap needs clearance above it to work. I smeared damp leaves all over the cardboard. BTW: I always wear rubber gloves when handling traps or anything else.
So last night I set the trap on a board and pushed it over to the area where I am hearing the noise. I left little pieces of brownie with walnut slivers near the entrance to the trap_not inside it. I want to get that mouse comfortable going near the trap before actually setting it. The brownie pieces were still there today. So disappointed! I moved the board over a few feet and pushed it further in.
Maybe it needs another night to see if it is safe?
It was pretty cold up there last night. Would that dim the aroma of the brownie and make it hard for the mouse to smell it?
I may try the bucket with the spinning can next, but not hopeful. I won’t use peanut butter, because that was on the snap trap that broke, and I think the mouse associates that smell with danger.
Has anyone used Nutella?
I would appreciate any comments regarding ANY of the above.
Hi Diane
I would use more traps, maybe 5 or 6 each with different types of bait. Besides food, they also want nesting materials. BTW have you sealed the hole in your attic where the mice are getting in?
Simon
Every winter I notice mice in my house. Never in the kitchen until this year though. I saw a mouse in the bathroom last year (my bathroom is as clean as bathrooms are and nobody eats there), I’m guessing mice come from my neighbours house and sometimes camp in my house for warmth in winter.
Anyway, I’ve had traps sitting around my living room for months but not a single mouse has been caught. None of them have food in them, I figured a mouse would accidentally stumble across them and get trapped in the past few months but nothing. I tried putting chocolate chips on the traps, but I just notice the chocolate chip has disappeared but the trap hasn’t snapped.
I live in England and these guys are definitely mice (not rats), I use traditional snapping mouse traps. Any tips?
(P.S. Last year the mice were behaving strangely. When I saw a mouse in the bathroom he ran around for 30 seconds looking for an exit, I saw one in the living room too.
The mouse came out and just stood there looking around. My brother picked up a shoe and hit it, and it died. Usually mice never stand still or hang around for too long. So what were these ones doing? I figured they’ve become intoxicated somehow.)
Hi Ray,
The first thing I would do is block the holes the mice are entering your house through, second is to understand which route the mice are taking through your home, they tend to stick to the same path, and you can find the path by looking for mice droppings. Then place your baited traps along this path and place glue traps either side of the snap trap.
Simon
Peanut butter Nutella or bisquick and a good ole fashion death trap seems to work for me. I never considered washing the trap or wearing gloves. checking traps daily just seems like like a big duh! A sprung trap isn’t doing any good! If the smell of their dead will repel them perhaps I should think about fertilizing the bushes around the house with the little jerks to ensure we don’t receive any more unwanted guests. Sounds morbid I know but I hate these little pests.
I feel so guilty using glue traps…Im terrified of mice & the glue traps seem to work but I hate torturing them cuz they dont die right away
Hi Racquel,
Yes, I know what you mean, but if you don’t do anything with them, they can and will destroy your home and transmit some very nasty diseases.
Simon
Good for you to realize glue traps are torture. I personally use non kill traps and release them, but I understand and appreciate that isn’t for everyone. Snap traps don’t work all the time, but it’s the most humane way to kill them and it’s what I would use if that was my intent. I wouldn’t consider glue traps ever because having them suffer or chew their hands off to get free, is just cruel. Poison is better than glue, but it’s still suffering and unintended animals can be killed (cats, owls, hawks, etc).
I just started using a HaveAHeart mouse trap ($28.00) which captures them alive. I have used glue traps and traditional mouse traps along side this trap and these two will set there for weeks with no activity. The HaveAHeart mouse trap baited with peanut butter inside attracts them far quicker. I take the mice and then release them across the street and down an embankment near a river.
I have a mouse that has been here for a long time…. I have now tried 4 different kinds of humane traps; glue pads; poison; and snap traps…. The bait on every single snap and humane trap is eaten and the traps not set off even…. I’m not allowed a cat so I was thinking of simply borrowing my moms cat for a weekend as I am now at a loss as what to do ….
You can try your mum’s cat but is it use to catching mice?
Try putting glue traps either side of the mouse trap. Are you sure you are dealing with mice and not rats? If it’s rats, then you need to use rat traps.
I’ve just bought NOOSKI mouse and rat traps as not sure what I’ve got. Do you recommend them because so far I haven’t managed to catch any. I think it’s nice and last night I sprinkled talcum powder where I know they run and saw some prints but no dropping s however I’ve cleaned the area and thrown away anything they could have
touched . How big are mice and rats (bodies only)?
I have never used a Nooski trap so can’t comment on it. If you are not sure about the type of rodent you have, then I suggest getting a camera trap and take a video to identify it and learn how it is interacting with your nooski trap.
Simon
Buy prebaited mouse traps i find these most effective in being humane instant death
I had a smart mouse who would not leave..I tried all kinds of traps…he even escaped the glue trap..He got big because I was gone all summer and he just stayed there..He even got kind of bold and would not hide when he slept during the day..Then one day..I bought the poison pellets..on the weekend, that I was going to set them out..I opened the door on Friday..and he ran out..He looked like he was enjoying the breeze outside..I quickly closed the door and I guess hes not there because the magazines haven’t moved..!
We are trying a combination of reusable, plastic snap traps and glue traps with no success. We do pick up the traps each day so our toddler will not get to them, and we have not been using gloves. According to your advice, the mice avoid all of our traps because they smell like us. What should I clean the snap traps with to remove our scent? Would it work for us to handle them with the type of rubber kitchen gloves that are typically worn to wash dishes?
The way to clean a trap is boil it water for 1 minute. When it comes to handling them, you want to use three sheets of newspaper or rub some cotton gloves in some soil before picking up the trap. The other thing you can do is put a trap in a cardboard tunnel made out of a shoe box. Furthermore, note that sometimes, mice will jump over a trap so you could in addition put down a glue trap on the other side of the trap.