"Magic" Mouse Bait

Two mice caught
One with peanut butter, one cheese. Oats were also in play, but no takers

 

I think it's time to wrap up this thread.

So, none of this proven and evidence would not hold up in court.

I have spent many nights trapping in somewhat unusual weather for Western Oregon. Drier than normal and warmer than normal -- climate change? Not enough evidence.

Bait: I have used chunky peanut butter; some canned Fritos mild cheese dip in a can from the grocery store (I was embarrassed to buy it); Nutella (expensive and tempting so I made sure to contaminate after opening so I would not be tempted) and uncooked Quaker Oats.

Peanut butter caught the most, followed by the Fritos. Nutella caught one mouse and oats caught none. Does not prove anything. Although you could make the case that just because other mice have died with the peanut butter, does not mean other mice will avoid it.

I detailed traps earlier in this thread. My old Victor/Tom Cat traps caught the most and despite the fact that other mice had died in those traps, mice did not seem to avoid them.

Finally, human smell and or smell of death on traps. The traps I used have all caught a number of mice over the years and I do not really clean them except to wipe out old, spoiled peanut butter or other baits with a cotton swab. Sometimes mold grows on the trap because of the bait. In those cases, I clean with rubbing alcohol 70 percent.

Human smell> I really do not believe that is an issue. Rodents have been co-existing for centuries with humans and have likely learned to associate human smell with food/shelter. Again, the inside of our cars must reek human, but the mice still nest inside -- and in my cars add doggy odor.
kris