You have your mouse traps with you. You have them loaded with bait and laid the traps out in areas where you suspect that mice would come. But somehow, you don’t get to catch them at all. What’s worse, they still scurry about in your home.
If you are unsure as to why you can’t catch any of these using your traps, you might be doing something wrong. Was it in the way you placed the trap? Was it in the bait used? We will look into these factors and find out how you can ensure that you place your traps well with mice falling for it.
Let us look at what to not do when setting up mouse traps. Make sure to avoid these mistakes.
1. Using Too Much Bait
This is one of the common mistakes made when setting up mouse traps. Putting too much bait results in the mouse getting access to the bait and get away with it. The trap would not spring and the mouse leaves with their reward.
The trick here is not to put too much bait in the trap. Make sure it is small enough that when the mouse reaches for it, the trap springs and keeps them inside.
2. Using the Wrong Bait
Let us clear out one particular misconception with baits. Cheese is one particular bait that does not work on mice. While you see this on television, cheese is not a fitting bait for mice. Rather, they gravitate towards foods that are high on carbohydrates.
With that in mind, consider using chocolate or peanut butter as bait. You can also use meat to bait mice into the traps.
During the winter, take a different approach. This is where you bait them with nesting materials. Among which include cotton balls, dental floss, or anything that they can use to build nests for the winter. After all, they need something soft and easy to carry during the cold months.
3. Mishandling the Bait
Another mistake that you may end up committing is mishandling the bait. In case you are wondering how this happens, ask yourself this question.
Did you touch the bait without wearing gloves?
If you answered yes, then you ruined and mishandled the bait. Without using gloves, you will end up transferring your scent on the bait. This will repel the mice instead of drawing them closer into the trap. Touching the bait without gloves causes the trap to become inert, making its features useless.
Remember to wear gloves when handling the bait. Make this part of the trapping protocol.
4. Not Enough Traps
Did you set enough traps in the areas where the rats are in? Consider increasing the number of traps in an area. This way, you have better chances of catching mice.
The suggested way to set your traps is to place traps and have up to 2-3 feet of space between them. With multiple traps present, you can account for more mice captured.
When planning on catching more mice, make sure to have at least six different traps set per one mouse. Keep this in mind when baiting.
5. Not Using Different Trap Types
With the number of trap types available, each one has inherent strengths and weaknesses. Using only one type of trap would prove insufficient when trying to catch mice.
Consider adding more variety to your loadout. Aside from snap traps, use other types as well. These can be cages, glue paper, and much more. Pay attention to their strengths and weaknesses, then plan with those in mind.
6. Wrong Trap Placement
Sometimes, the mistake also lies in where you put the trap. Mice tend to be near walls and they do not tend to stray far away from their nests and feeding areas. With this in mind, set your traps along the walls.
When mice travel, they tend to go alongside walls than going on open spaces. Set your traps with this behavior in mind.
7. Setting Traps Without Angles in Mind
When setting traps, both placement and angles come to play. Each trap would have an effective layout for them to function well. For instance, if you use a bait station, put the opening of the station close to the wall. Or if you use a snap trap, make sure to place the trap perpendicular to the wall.
While angles are small details in the whole setup, they can do so much in terms of trap effectiveness. Keep that in mind when setting up mouse traps.
8. Wrong Mouse Trap Size
Are you sure your mousetrap is in the right size? Remember that mice are smaller compared to rats. With that said, make sure that the traps you pick do not allow any avenue of escape for trapped mice. When picking the right trap for the situation, pay attention to the size.
9. Starting Slow with Trapping
Do not start slow when setting up traps. Instead, go all out and plan everything. Use every kind of trap possible during your first night of setting traps. Also have different baits in place as well. The best chance to catch a lot of mice is during the first night.
This way, you don’t give mice a chance to escape or even plan in bypassing the traps you set.
10. Expecting Immediate Results
Patience is key when trapping mice. To ensure that your traps succeed in capturing mice, wait and take your time. Let them come to the trap.
To ensure that they do come to the trap, practice good hygiene and ensure that the surroundings remain clean. Also, ensure that you find a means to cut the mice off from accessing food supplies. This will force the mice to go towards the trap, as that is the only area where they can find food. Everything will play out as planned.
Trap Smart Today
Setting traps require strategy and knowing where they pass. With the right setup, you can catch these mice with well-placed traps. As long as you have the appropriate bait and a good number of traps, you can get these mice without issue. There are even guides online that explain how to get rid of mice in more detail, such as this one here.
If you prefer to go for a faster approach in getting rid of mice, you can also call for pest control professionals for assistance.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.