What's the best bait for rodent traps?

[RenoHuskerDu]

We have rodents coming and feasting on our bags of feed. I always used peanut butter, but these rodents are not going for it. Tried some cranberries on the traps, they somehow knocked it off without tripping the traps.

We're using old-fashioned wood mousetraps. The droppings are about the size of a kernel of rice, so they're not big rats if they are rats. Rather, fat mice or small field rats. I saw one once in the coop and it was about 4 inches not including the tail.

What do you use? Anybody else in Central Texas with rodent issues?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I usually use Peanut Butter as well.....
Do you have any soft cat food? That should work! Good luck trapping!

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Just checked, no cats, no cat food. We are going to try going no cats this time to avoid the flea issue. Our heelers hate rodents but can't get to them once they get inside.

 

[Folly's place]

All feed needs to be stored in metal containers with tight lids. Feed bags out in the open are just going to continue to attract all sorts of critters that shouldn't be there!
I use metal garbage cans, with the feed bags inside. For lots of feed, an old chest freezer works fine too, and having it all in an enclosed tack room is also good.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

For snap traps I've used peanut butter, jam, or cheese. Mice are pretty easy, rats not. For rats, only bait stations really work to eliminate them all. And remove their food source!
Mary

 

[Rk04]

Believe it or not I’ve had luck using bacon for large rats

 

[Al Gerhart]

Someone already mentioned the solution, put the bulk feed in metal cans like trash cans or barrels. Mice and rats will chew through plastic totes or plastic buckets, get a galvanized trash can or a cheap 55 gallon drum. You can get smaller drums too, look on Craigslist.com in your area.

Trying to trap or poison your way out of a rodent infestation is like complaining about a screen door leaking on a submarine. Fix the real problem first. And as a bonus, you invited a bunch of rodents to your property so your chicken feed in the coops will be the target next.

Basic sanitation would have prevented the problem. Basic sanitation will solve the problem.

 

[PetitePlume]

Fresh meat. For someting 4 inches long I would reccomend a rat trap and tie it down. Good luck!

 

[Folly's place]

The problem with using meat or cat food is that you could catch and severely injure a non-target animal, like a cat! If the trap is set in a place only rodents can access, then maybe. Otherwise, no.
Mary

 

[PetitePlume]

rodents usually like dark holes and fit in small hole, so you just have to set the trap in a cardboard box.