Rodent question?

Question

We live by a tree nursery with lots of open space. Every Fall when the weather gets cooler we set snap traps, baited with peanut butter, in our storage room to catch any mice which get into our house to escape the cold. We have sealed everything we can find and usually get a few mice per winter. This year, each morning when we check the traps, the PB is licked off and the trap is NOT sprung! I've read that shrews don't eat PB and voles are seemingly big enough (similar to a mouse) to spring the traps. Any other ideas?

Answer 1

I have used peanut butter on mouse traps for many years. I have found that chunky peanut butter works the best. I also found that using the cheapest peanut butter works well since it is not as oily as the more expensive brands. Leave the lid off of the peanut butter for a while so some of the water content evaporates thereby stiffening the peanut butter up. I have also found that wedging a chunk of the "chunky" peanut butter into the depression of the trigger helps. After you wedge the piece in, go ahead and smear some of the stiffened peanut butter over the trigger. They may get lucky and lick the rest off without springing the trap, but when they gnaw at that last little wedged bit, it is lights out.

Good luck with your mouse problem.

Answer 2

Maureen, We had this exact problem. Mice lick the peanut butter off without putting enough pressure to spring the trap. Tie a piece of string with a big knot on your bait tray. the mice will have to bite on the string to get all of the peanut butter. It never misses. Most times you won't even have to rebate the trap when you reset it.

Answer 3

Hah, that happens to me a lot too. Those darn mice are awfully gentle licking away all of the peanut butter. I have switched to chunky style, and try to wedge a chunk under the curled part of the trip paddle. Good luck!

Answer 4

id say its definitely a mouse, but one whos gotten very clever. try this: stick a pice of oatmeal into the peanut butter. the pb by itself is not agitating the trigger enough to spring the trap

Answer 5

You might try wrapping some string around the trigger before smearing the peanut butter on. That way they can't clean it all off as easy and may move the trigger enough to spring it. Wrap the string several wraps then tie it off.

Answer 6

Oh the poor mice. I've heard it said that if you ask the mice nicely they will leave. Whilst I half think its cock and bull - when I once found a mouse in my place, my sister told me she'd heard this theory. Granted I had caught one of the mice in a trap, but I went around asking the mice to leave....... I lived alone and never told anyone I'd done it! I never saw another mouse. coincidence or not?

Answer 7

We use a poision called Havoc which is great, the dead mice don't smell and they dry up. You can also get sticky traps and put them where you think you need them just keep away from pets and kids. If you don't have a dog inside get a Yorkie, they are known for being great mousers. I raise them and they really are.

Answer 8

try apples. when you add the apple, try to get it into the groves of the trap to make them work for it. as the apple rots(be it a tiny piece) the sweet smell acts like a beacon. i tagged 18 mice total in one month with it. p-butter may melt making it easier for them to get at.
good luck.

Answer 9

You've got a really smart mouse. Can't use anything as simple as peanut butter. take a small piece of bacon and tie it on. you'll get him. been there.