It is frustrating, right? You load up your mouse trap with bait, check the trap in two days, and the mouse trap bait has gone, but no mouse has been caught?
What do you do? What CAN you do?
What you will learn in this post:
- Why your mouse bait is being stolen.
- 5 things you can do to stop it from being stolen.
Being outsmarted by a mouse is no laughing matter, so we will discuss what you can do to stop your mouse bait from being stolen.
If it makes you feel better, we have had problems with a mouse stealing peanut butter from a trap in the past. After following the tips detailed in this post, we caught it!
Before we begin, check out the mouse bait that we recommend.
What Or Who Is Stealing The Mouse Bait
If the mouse trap bait has gone, but no mouse has been caught, it could be one of the following suspects.
- Mice: This is the most obvious suspect and is likely to be the reason why your bait is going missing.
- Rats: Similar to a mouse, and under the right circumstances, a rat could be stealing your mouse bait.
- Cats: If you have a cat or the trap is outdoors, it could be why your mouse bait is missing. Here are some cat-safe mouse trap options to consider.
- Bigger Rodents: A larger rodent could be stealing your mouse bait. These include chinchillas, squirrels, and many other rodents.
- Dogs: If you have mouse traps outside, a dog must be on a list of suspects.
- Other Animals: To be honest, any animal could be stealing your mouse bait!
Avoid Your Mouse Bait Being Stolen
- Use effective mouse traps: By using one of the most effective mouse traps, you are limiting the chances of false triggers, which result in your mouse bait being stolen, but no mouse being caught.
- Place mouse traps in the correct areas: If you lay your mouse traps in the correct areas, you increase the chances that a mouse will come in contact with the trap.
- Load the bait correctly: Only place the required amount of bait in the bait cup of the mouse trap. If you load too much bait onto the trap, there is a possibility that the trap will malfunction.
- Use humane mouse traps: Consider the use of humane mouse traps. Most humane versions have the mouse bait inside the trap and are not accessible unless the animal enters the trap. This will stop larger animals from stealing bait (such as peanut butter) from your mouse trap.
- Correctly place the mouse trap: Place the mouse trap with the trap facing the wall. This will stop mice or rats from stealing the bait while avoiding being caught. Setting your mouse traps in confined spaces is also a great idea to stop the bait from being stolen.
Mouse Bait and Trap Theft!
It is incredibly frustrating when your mouse bait has been taken. We usually load up our traps with peanut butter. We had times when a mouse stole peanut butter from the trap, which left us baffled!
There were also times when the mouse trap bait had gone, but I had caught no mouse. We also had times when the entire mouse trap had disappeared!
When it happens, it is time to take a step back and think about ways to improve your mouse control’s effectiveness.
Mouse Stealing Peanut Butter From Trap?
As I mentioned above, peanut butter is the best mouse trap bait. It is a top option simply because it is difficult to get off the trap due to its sticky nature!
That doesn’t mean it is impossible, especially if your trap is faulty or doesn’t register that a mouse has stepped on it.
If a mouse can steal your bait without springing the trap, you need another trap!
If you have a mouse stealing peanut butter from your trap, I recommend using another trap.
Humane traps are an excellent way of ensuring mice do not escape. If they get to the bait, they are already trapped!
How to Catch A Mouse That Keeps Stealing Bait
If a mouse keeps stealing bait from the trap you set up, you should consider using a live catch mouse trap. Most of these options trap the mouse BEFORE it gets to the bait. That way, if the mouse gets to the bait, it is already trapped!
Always ensure that you use good mouse traps when using regular snap traps. One of the most common mouse trap mistakes is weak traps that do not have a sensitive trigger.
Look at our recommended mouse traps to give you an idea of the traps that successfully catch mice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a glue trap help when the bait is being stolen?
My preference is not to use glue traps at all. For me, glue traps are not a humane way of catching mice. They can be very effective.
How do mice get peanut butter off traps?
Simple – your trap is not sensitive enough. I recommend using another mouse trap. Go for a humane mouse trap if possible. It does mean you will have a live mouse to deal with, though! Snap traps are good if you use traps that are sensitive enough to trigger when a mouse steps on them. Using a live catch trap, if the mouse gets to the bait, it is already trapped! Game over.
Conclusion
If you have a problem with a mouse stealing bait from the trap, this post has covered you!
Catching mice in your home can be a challenge. In your quest to get rid of mice in your home, you need to reduce the chances of your mouse bait being stolen.
In this post, we have given you tips on ensuring this doesn’t happen.
As always, you should be careful when handling mouse traps and mice. Mice carry some very nasty diseases! Your health is vital.
Good luck!
