Why aren't my mouse traps going off?

Question

We used mouse traps baited with peanut butter all over the house, and every morning the peanut butter is gone, but the traps haven't been set off. We can even see teeth marks in the peanut butter sometimes. We tested the traps and they DO work, they're not set up incorrectly. How is this happening and what can we do?

Answer 1

The mice maybe either to small to set off the trap or the traps aren't set barely on the edge of popping off.

That was happening to me and it turned out the mice were to small. Because I saw them.

Answer 2

I realized what was happening several years ago with my traps. The mice were too small to set the traps off so I attached a small piece of cloth to the trigger and worked the peanut butter into the cloth and the next day all of the traps had a critter in them and have been doing this ever since and haven't found a trap without peanut butter on it yet unless there was a mouse in it.

Answer 3

I must say you have been outsmarted by a mouse.

I would look into alternative trapping options there are many out there.

Or try repositioning the traps to face another direction and make sure there is nothing blocking them that would prevent them from going off.

I have had mice as well and found that something they have to grab and pull out with their teeth is also more effective. Use the good old cheese trick peanut butter can just be licked off. Then not enough pressure is being used to set off the trap

Good Luck

Answer 4

No ! Stop!! Are you crazy!! Release all your traps immediatley! You don't want to hurt them. Go to WalMart in their trap section they have a trap called the "MiceCube" it catches them alive. They only cost $1.50 a trap so it's not that bad of deal. Buy a couple and put a piece of food towards the back of the traps and then smear a thin layer of peanut butter on the front door to the trap. The mice will lick their way inside the "cube." Then you can release them where ever you want or you can drop them off at the pet shop.

Did you know that a single mouse sperm is larger than a single elephant sperm?

That the DNA of a mouse is 97% identical to that of humans?

Did you know that a mouse was the first warm blooded animal to make it into space?

Mice are cool, but..... they get the short end of the stick eveytime because their the smallest animal.

It's time for the world to come together and recognize the mouse for who he is. Show a little respect. Maybe even learn something from this creature. Think about it. Mice are very inteligent animals.

You can also take them to your vet and have them nuterd.

Finally...you can alway's find a 15 gal aquaruim somewhere and just keep the mice as pets.

I'm sure you will do the right thing....good luck

Answer 5

The exact thing happened to me. I even tried covering pieces of cheese with peanut butter. Nothing worked.Sorry I can't help you, but i'm curious to see if anyone knows the answer. One thing I didn't try was to set the trap surrounded with something raised so the mouse has to like hop down onto the trap, get my drift?(use your imagination as to what to put around the trap). Good luck. Oh, also Willard is a good movie, check it out. Peace.

Answer 6

I don't know what brand of mouse traps you are using but the only mouse traps I use with 100% success are VICTOR brand mouse they have two kinds one with a metal bait switch and one with a plastic yellow simulated piece of cheese bait switch I like the metal ones better cause you bend the bait switch hook to the side just a little making it have a hair tigger release we use peanut butter too but not that much on the bait switch we don't want to feed them we want to lure them in and KILL the the little Bastartds!! also are you putting the mouse traps along baseboards and in corners cause mice have very bad eyesight and that's why they have those whiskers to help guide them in the dark so that combined with their good sense of smell will lesad them to their deaths every time Good Luck hope this helps Death to the mice Byahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Answer 7

You didn't mention the brand, but if they are the "Victor" brand you have to stuff just a bit of peanut butter inside the rolled end of the hole , it sounds like you've put too much on to make it easier for them to get - you have to put a tiny amount in the bait pedal to make them work at getting it out , THAT will set it off. Also, make sure you place the traps with the bait end up against the wall, so the wall is at their back when they try to get the food.

Answer 8

You might go to a rat trap - but we've noticed this year that our mouse traps aren't catching the mice either - I don't know if they're being driven in looking for water more than actually food or just what - my husband says the best way to ensure death - is to fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/3 full of water - if it's a mouse or rat - they will smell the water and want it - once in they will not be able to get back out and will drown - I"ve told him to go for it - but he has to be the first one to get up and check the buckets - I'm not going too!

Answer 9

the mice are licking the peanut butter off the trap

tie a piece of string coated with peanut butter to the trigger and they will swallow the string and trip the trap

Answer 10

Attach something the mouse will have to pull at the get off and not lick..... cheese, lunchmeat... something like that. I had a major mice problem a few years ago and that worked. But once they start multiplying, forget traps and switch to a poison.... kept away of course from pets and small children.