Today I’m going to show you how to bait a mouse trap with peanut butter to eliminate mice. It is not just about setting up traps and waiting. While that’s a start, there are often mistakes made that can slow down the process, which I will also discuss in this guide.
How to Bait a Mouse Trap with Peanut Butter
Step 1 – Wear hand gloves
I’m wearing gloves to avoid leaving my scent on the trap. Mice are good at detecting human scent on traps, which can deter them. So, always wear gloves when handling and setting mouse traps. Any gloves, like those used in food preparation, healthcare, or for dishwashing, are suitable. Also, use gloves to handle a trap once it has caught a mouse to protect yourself from diseases.
Step 2 – Let mice get used to the traps
Mice are naturally cautious of new items in their environment. To get them accustomed, start by placing baited but unset traps for a few days. This works with all types of traps, including classic snap traps, electronic traps, or live traps. Once you notice the mice taking the bait, you’ll know the traps are well-placed and the mice will likely return. Then, it’s time to activate the traps.
Step 3 – Bait the mouse trap with peanut butter
So, here I have a mousetrap, but I’m going to make it better by adding peanut butter. I’ve got some peanut butter here and will take a bit and put it on the trap.
Your bait is really important, and thankfully, peanut butter is really good for mice. They can even smell it from a long distance. Contrary to popular belief, mice don’t prefer cheese. They’re mainly attracted to nuts and seeds. Thus, the best baits are peanut butter or hazelnut spread. If you use a snap trap like in this tutorial, you have to attach the peanut butter to the trigger so the mice have to tug or chew on them to trigger the trap.
Step 4 – Add the bait on the front or back
I’ll just use a little peanut butter, not too much. Maybe I’ll put it on the back instead of the front. It might be easier with a knife, but I’m using a spoon. I’m going to put a bit of peanut butter right here.
Step 5 – Don’t use too much peanut butter
While you bait a mouse trap with peanut butter, don’t use too much of it. Too much peanut butter bait on traps can backfire. Mice might be able to nibble away some of the bait without triggering the trap. A small, pea-sized amount is ideal – enough to attract mice but not so much that they can eat it without setting off the trap.
Step 6 – Set the mouse trap
Once I’ve added the peanut butter, I’ll set the trap. I’ll pull back the V trap and set the arm in place. Be careful, because it can snap. Again, be cautious.
Step 7 – Place traps along the walls
Placing mouse traps in the right location is very important. I have written about the places for mousetrap, so make sure to check out. Mice avoid open spaces and prefer moving along walls, using their whiskers to navigate. For effective trapping, position mouse traps near walls where mice often travel. Make sure the bait and trigger of the trap face the wall, enticing mice to investigate instead of avoiding them. Place traps in hidden spots too, like behind appliances or inside cabinets for better chances of catching them.
If you don’t get it right the first time, keep trying. Don’t hurt yourself, it can be painful. If you’re not experienced, it might take a few tries.
Conclusion
So, that’s really the step-by-step guide you need to bait a mouse trap with peanut butter. Mice breed quickly, so set the traps every 2 to 3 feet along walls where you’ve noticed mouse activity. In areas with a lot of traffic, place traps in pairs about an inch apart.
I have noticed that the first night of setting traps is often the most successful in catching mice. So, place many traps where you have seen mouse activity once they get used to the traps as explained earlier. Don’t stick to peanut butter only—you can try other types of bait to maximize your chances of a successful first night.
Read also: How to catch mice eating bait but not triggering trap
