# Best mouse trap bait **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401 "2017-11-22T13:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/21 "2017-11-22T18:34:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I actually have a jar of cheap peanut butter just for mouse trapping. I used a sharpie to draw a skull and crossbones on the label. My mice only get organic, non-hydrogenated peanut butter, w/o added salt. 100% Peanuts. I want them healthy when their little necks get snapped! ---
**Author:** ![flip-68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@flip-68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flip-68)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/22 "2017-11-22T18:47:55Z")
chocolate spread did it for me ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/23 "2017-11-22T18:49:49Z")
Our mice ignored the peanut butter but went crazy for salami. Go figger. Italian mice? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/24 "2017-11-22T18:56:53Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > Our mice ignored the peanut butter but went crazy for salami. Go figger. > Italian mice? Ed Sullivan: “Where’s Topo Gigio? He was supposed to be on the show tonight.” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/25 "2017-11-22T19:27:42Z")
I’ve tried peanut butter and before I could finish my sentence the Orkin Guy said ‘the mouse licked it off with setting off the trap, right?’, he was right. His suggestion was much better, use a Snickers bar. In fact, anything along those lines, something sticky and gooey that they’ll have to right at to get off the lever. Also, not that you were asking, but I use the bigger (rat) traps by Tomcat. The ones that look like [this](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IEBe3ApqL._SX466_.jpg). If you’re squeamish, you can tie a string to it so when you catch something you can pick it up by the string and drop it all in the garbage, but I just hold it over the garbage, drop the mouse in and reset it. I also don’t mess around with the little bait cup, I just keep my foot on it and jam the snickers in it. That thing snaps pretty hard. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/26 "2017-11-22T19:59:28Z")
PB and the TomCat traps with the fake cheese pad. I think the holes in the pad are good for trapping a little PB and it makes the mouse climb all over the pad to get it. I don’t think I’ve ever had a mouse get away with the PB. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/27 "2017-11-22T20:06:04Z")
I already bought two old school wood/metal victor traps. I figure since the design has been around for over 100 years and is still selling it’s stood the test of time. Based on popular demand, I think I’ll try peanut butter as bait first. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/28 "2017-11-22T21:32:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’ve tried peanut butter and before I could finish my sentence the Orkin Guy said ‘the mouse licked it off with setting off the trap, right?’, he was right … [snip] Yes … so use chunky peanut butter and make sure you jamb the chunks into the bait holder … the filthy lil’ varmint will have to dig at it to get the chunk loose … and SNAP … you got him … Caught 28 mice in 48 hours once, couldn’t turn my back without that trap going off … I could tell where the mouse trail was … so that’s another hint, put the traps along their trails … every one of the bastards will stop and dig … ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/29 "2017-11-22T22:13:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I like the reusable plastic traps with a simple push spring set. Also easy when disposing of the, um, corpus delicti. > > . These are the ones I use and they are great! Twice now I’ve actually caught 2 at the same time, in the same trap, where they were sharing the peanut butter. That’s quite a rush! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/30 "2017-11-22T22:14:26Z")
My FIL tied bacon rind on the bait tray thingy, with wire. He was very successful. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/31 "2017-11-22T22:19:22Z")
We had an infestation last year. 46 years old and the first time I’d ever had mice - damn neighbors. After a good amount of trial and error, I found that sticky traps sprinkled with small-kibble pet food were devastating to the rodent invaders. That, and the neighbors got thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/32 "2017-11-22T22:24:02Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > PB and the TomCat traps with the fake cheese pad. I think the holes in the pad are good for trapping a little PB and it makes the mouse climb all over the pad to get it. I don’t think I’ve ever had a mouse get away with the PB. I got about 20 of these on clearance for a bit of nothing last year. Agree that they work great and the holes hold peanut butter nicely. I was glad to get so many because I never reuse traps. They’re single-use as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/33 "2017-11-22T23:15:13Z")
Mouse attractant. It’s a blue gel you can get at Home Depot. Work amazingly well. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/34 "2017-11-23T03:53:08Z")
It would seem there’s a consensus that peanut butter’s the thing. More votes for PB than everything else combined. Here’s my tally so far: [ul][li] Peanut butter (w/ or w/out chunks or salt): 22[/li][li] Bread (w/ PB): 1[/li][li] Chicken liver paté: 1[/li][li] Cheese (w/ PB): 1[/li][li] Gumdrop: 1[/li][li] Cotton: 1[/li][li] Bacon (or rind thereof): 2[/li][li] Laundry soap: 1[/li][li] Sexy girl mice: 1 (But to catch mice this way, you must first catch some mice!)[/li][li] Chocolate: 1[/li][li] Salami: 1[/li][li] Snickers Bar: 1[/li][li] Kibbles: 1[/li][li] Mouse Attractant: 1[/ul][/li]So bacon comes in with a distant second place. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/35 "2017-11-23T04:07:33Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I have had luck with peanut butter, but I have also had luck with a piece of a gumdrop. Odds are you’re more likely to have peanut butter, unless it’s around Easter or something. Share my gumdrops with mice? [faints dead away] ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/36 "2017-11-23T07:14:50Z")
Dog food, glued down with glue gun. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/37 "2017-11-23T07:23:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’ve tried peanut butter and before I could finish my sentence the Orkin Guy said ‘the mouse licked it off with setting off the trap, right?’, he was right. His suggestion was much better, use a Snickers bar. In fact, anything along those lines, something sticky and gooey that they’ll have to right at to get off the lever. > > Also, not that you were asking, but I use the bigger (rat) traps by Tomcat. The ones that look like [this](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IEBe3ApqL._SX466_.jpg). > If you’re squeamish, you can tie a string to it so when you catch something you can pick it up by the string and drop it all in the garbage, but I just hold it over the garbage, drop the mouse in and reset it. > I also don’t mess around with the little bait cup, I just keep my foot on it and jam the snickers in it. That thing snaps pretty hard. Holy Rabbit Turds Ratman! What kind of mice y’all got that requires a trap that looks like it’s designed for catching beavers or something? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/38 "2017-11-23T10:55:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Has anyone mentioned peanut butter? Because it’s the best. It’s 1920’s-style death butter. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/39 "2017-11-23T11:41:58Z")
> [@SacFly](#): > > I like the classic victor metal/wood traps. I don’t like the ones with a plastic bait station. > > Take a small pinch of the soft, inner part of a slice of bread. Smush it onto the metal bait holder. When it dries it will be attached. Take a small amount of peanut butter and coat the bread piece. This will get your mouse. If they don’t get it licking the peanut butter, once they dig into the bread they’re done for. > > If you don’t get it in a few days, add fresh peanut butter. Just like with fishing, fresh bait works best. I use a small piece of chocolate. It’s already rigid, so when the mouse nibbles it it jiggles the latch. But I’m cheap, and reuse mouse traps. Peanut butter attracts mice just fine. The two downsides to peanut butter are that its soft enough they can sometimes lick it without springing the trap (especially if it’s warm) and I’m too lazy to actually WASH a mouse trap. The chocolate just pulls out. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401/40 "2017-11-23T12:59:02Z")
Because of the licking issue, I use not peanut butter but rather the peanut itself. I use good ol’ Victor traps – none of the rest work as well\* and a half-peanut jams under that curl in the bait pedal just fine. - I bought a clamshell trap similar in concept to the Tomcat one pictured in **Joey P** ’s post. The second evening I heard noises from where it was placed and saw a mouse jumping up and down on the trigger trying to get the peanut off. Into the trash it went. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-mouse-trap-bait/802401.md?page=3)