Outsmart Mice Yourself: 10 Best Food Baits For Mouse Traps

Mice infestations are a common issue experienced by both homeowners and businesses alike. If not resolved quickly, these tiny creatures can cause significant damage to property and pose health risks due to their ability to carry diseases.

Many people wisely choose mouse trap systems to combat mice infestations. However, with many mouse traps requiring bait, it's important to understand that the choice of bait is just as crucial to ensuring success.

Read on to learn more about why bait matters, along with our 10 best baits for mouse traps and attracting mice.

Quick Guide: Best Bait for Mouse Traps

• Best all-round bait: A pea-sized smear of peanut butter or chocolate spread (sticky + strong smell).
• How much to use: Pea-sized only - too much lets mice feed without triggering the trap.
• How to place traps: Set traps along walls/skirting where mice travel, not in the middle of the room.
• If they're ignoring the bait: Match what they're already eating (pet food, oats, bacon) and try pre-baiting (baited but unset traps for 1-3 nights, then set).
• Pets/kids: Use a bait station / enclosed box wherever there's any risk of access.

Why Do Baits Matter?

The choice of food bait is crucial for mouse traps effectiveness. Choosing the best food for your mouse traps can significantly impact the success of your trapping efforts. Here are several reasons why the choice of food bait matters so much when setting up a mouse trap.

Attracting Mice

The primary purpose of bait is to attract mice to the trap. The best foods for mouse traps have strong scents, appealing textures, and flavours that mice find irresistible. By choosing the right bait, you can entice mice to approach the trap in the first place.

Mice can be cautious creatures and may hesitate to interact with a trap that appears unfamiliar or suspicious. However, the presence of an enticing bait can make them more willing to explore the trap, increasing the chances of triggering it successfully.

Keeping Mice Engaged

Once a mouse is attracted to the trap, using an effective food bait can keep it engaged for longer periods. Mice may spend more time consuming the bait, allowing for better chances of trapping them. Additionally, the aroma and taste of the food can overshadow any potential odours from the trap itself, making it more appealing.

Encouraging Repeat Visits

Some mice may learn to be cautious around traps after witnessing their peers being caught. However, you can overcome their hesitation by choosing the best food to attract mice. By providing a tempting and rewarding food source, mice will be more likely to return to the trap until they are caught.

Effectively Triggering the Trap

Bait should go on the bait cup/trigger, so the mouse has to touch it to feed. If you smear too much bait around the cup, mice can often lick it off without setting the trap. Use only a pea-sized amount and press it firmly into the cup so the mouse has to tug or gnaw to get it.

We always recommend using a mouse bait station to protect non-target species, including pets and children.

10 Best Food Baits For Mouse Traps

Below is a list of our top 10 best food baits you can use when setting up a mouse trap to attract mice. You should be able to find everything on this list in your local grocery store.

#1 Peanut Butter

Many people use peanut butter as a go-to choice for mouse traps. Its sticky texture and strong aroma make it irresistible to mice. A small dollop of peanut butter on the trap will have mice flocking toward it in no time.

#2 Nutty Chocolate Spread

Mice are notorious for having a sweet tooth, and chocolate spread is no exception. Its irresistible sweetness can be effectively used as bait. However, using small amounts to ensure the mice interact with the trap is important instead of just feasting on the chocolate without triggering it.

#3 Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts, such as sunflower seeds or almonds, can be excellent bait options. These foods mimic the natural diet of mice and can successfully attract them to the trap.

#4 Raisins and Other Fruits

Small pieces of raisins, apples or bananas can work wonders when used as mouse trap bait. The sweet scent of these fruits is highly enticing to mice. Experiment with different types of fruits to find what works best for your situation.

#5 Soft Cheeses

Mice will eat cheese, but in many homes sticky, high-fat or sweet baits (like nut butter or chocolate spread) tend to outperform it, so treat cheese as a backup rather than your first choice.

Hard cheese is not the best choice for mouse trap bait. Soft cheeses possess a strong smell and are easier for mice to consume. Consider using soft cheeses like brie or Camembert to maximise your chances of trapping those pesky mice.

#6 Pet Food

Wet pet food can act as a powerful attractant for mice. Its strong odour and palatability make it highly appealing to these critters.

#7 Bacon or Ham

Due to their strong and alluring aromas, ham or bacon are excellent mouse trap baits. Mice are drawn to these flavourful meats, especially when slightly warm, increasing the likelihood of them approaching and triggering the trap.

#8 Bread and Butter

For a classic bait option with a twist, consider adding a layer of butter to bread. The added scent of the butter can enhance the bait's attractiveness.

#9 Oats

Mice strongly prefer grains, which provide the perfect chewing opportunity. Their distinct smell can attract mice from a distance. Oats' irresistible combination of taste and scent makes them an effective and reliable bait for mouse traps.

#10 Marshmallows

Sweets like marshmallows or gummy bears make excellent mouse trap bait. Their high sugar content attracts mice, and their affordability and effectiveness mean that just one or two can do the job.

Tips for Using Food Baits

• Use small pea-sized portions of bait to ensure that the mice are motivated to interact with the trap, but not so much that they can feed without triggering it.
• Make mice work for it (so the trap fires): press bait firmly onto the bait cup/trigger, or wrap/tie a tiny piece of nesting material so the mouse has to tug/gnaw (this helps prevent “lick and leave”).
• Avoid contaminating the bait: use gloves or a clean utensil — don’t double-dip into a jar you eat from.
• Position the bait carefully on the trap, ensuring it is secured and won't easily fall off.
• Vary the food baits as much as possible. Some mice may be attracted to different baits, and mice might become suspicious of certain baits if used too frequently.

Professional Mouse Baits and Attractants

There is also the option to use professional-grade mouse attractants. These may boost the success of your mouse control efforts as they are specially designed to lure mice seamlessly to traps for optimal results. Better still, they are simple to use, coming in ready-to-use packaging.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right bait is crucial for successful mouse control. By experimenting with the suggested best foods for mouse traps discussed above, you can increase your chances of catching these unwanted guests and regaining control over your living or working spaces.

The DIY pest control approach provides a cost-effective solution and empowers you to take immediate action. Remember to be patient and persistent in your efforts, and don't hesitate to seek professional assistance if needed.

FAQs: best bait for mouse traps

What’s the best bait for mouse snap traps?
Start with a pea-sized amount of peanut butter or chocolate spread, pressed firmly onto the trigger so they can’t lick it off easily.

How much bait should I put on a mouse trap?
Pea-sized. More bait often reduces catches because mice can feed without triggering the mechanism.

Why are mice taking bait but not getting caught?
Common causes are: too much bait, traps not tight to walls, or mice being wary of new objects. Try smaller bait, reposition along skirting, and pre-bait (baited but unset) for a couple of nights.

Do I need an attractant if I’m already using food?
Not always — but non-toxic lures can help when you need longer-lasting scent, or you’re rotating baits to avoid “bait shyness”.

We go to great lengths to ensure that all our mouse trap attractants are effective, fast & easy-to-use. You may also find our expert guide useful if you want to learn more about getting rid of mice from your home or workplace.