Last Updated on December 23, 2022 by Tony Manhart
Mice are one of the most common pests around the world. These rodents learned long ago that living around humans is the best way to ensure a constant food supply, especially due to the invention of agriculture. Unfortunately, mice and other rodents carry numerous diseases that make them hazardous to the health of you and your family.
When you’re plagued by rodents, rather than employing the traditional method of using traps, why don’t you take into consideration the use of a bait? Presently, baits are one of the most effective ways to eliminate a population because they act slow, can be spread throughout the entire population, and fit in hard to reach places where mice like to hide.
To help you choose the best one, kindly take a good look at these five great mouse baits.
How to Choose a Mouse Bait
Not all mouse baits work the same, and it’s important to find one that works for your unique situation. Ideally, you should pick a bait that can be placed throughout the interior and exterior without posing a danger to other animals like pets.
Soft baits work best in attracting mice because they are easy to chew and shareable with other mice. A great mouse bait will work fast in killing a mouse before it even has any chance to breed or cause a ruckus in your home.
So, based on this information, the characteristics you need to look for are in its ease of use, convenience, safety, and how fast the poison acts.
The bait should be easy to use because you’re unlikely to use something that you’ll have to struggle and set up. It should also be placed in convenient locations because mice will always go to the easiest food source rather than moving further away from their nest. Finally, you should ensure that the bait you get is a slow poison type, and won’t attract children and pets. When the poison is slow, the mice will have a chance to share and kill others.
Advantages of Mouse Bait
Mouse bait comes with numerous advantages. For one thing, it’s cheap and effective. You don’t have to invest a great deal of money into buying expensive electronic traps when you can go for a gallon tub of bait and place it around the house. Poisonous bait also works fast enough to kill mice before they breed, but slow enough for them to share it with the nest and kill off the rest of its breed by accident.
Professionals recommend using bait as a measure only when there are a huge number of mice that are difficult to eliminate. However, most baits work well indoors and outdoors and are designed to only attract mice and not other animals like cats and deer. So be careful about where you place the bait.
What to Know Before Using Bait
Remember that bait is not just dangerous for mice, but for other animals as well. Thus, place a bait where the mice can reach it but your pets and children cannot. In many cases, this could mean forcing it into holes where cats, dogs, and children aren’t tempted to taste or eat the bait.
Also, before carrying a bait, remember to wear gloves when handling it so none of the ingredients spread to you. Most of the pesticides in baits are anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners. This can be dangerous when taken in by the human body, so always exercise caution.
Next, be sure the mice will find the bait tempting. The simplest way to do this is by clearing out all other food sources, sealing packages of cereals, and other foodstuffs before placing the bait. Also, make sure the bait is accessible, identify the areas where the mice feast most and then place it there.
If you’re worried about the bait being unattractive, try buying a product that specifically includes a rodent attractive scent, such as peanut butter or fish. You won’t be able to smell it, but the mice can and will notice.
Check Out a Few of These Efficient Baits
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JT Eaton 709-PN Bait Block
The JT Eaton 709-PN Bait Blockcomes in a large pail with 144 single ounce blocks of mice bait and poison. The blocks are greenish with small seeds inside, designed to attract mice and rats with an appealing smell. In respect to attractiveness, JT Eaton flavors the blocks with peanut butter and an anticoagulant called Diphacinone, which causes internal bleeding and then death.
One good thing about the bait is that, not only is it efficient in attracting and killing rodents, it can either be used indoors or outdoors. Unlike a lot of products, this one comes with a warranty so it can be returned if it doesn’t work well.
PROS
Attracts Mice with its Peanut Butter Flavor.
Active Ingredient: Diphacinone.
Includes 1-Year Limited Warranty.
Works on Mice and Rats.
Inexpensive.
CONS
Melts on Hot Days
Exposed
Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx
The Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx is a farm’s favorite, primarily designed to eliminate rodents like mice and rats. The bait comes in the form of a greenish chunk, that is made from human-grade food that has been processed and preserved.
Not only can it maintain a tantalizing smell for the mice, but it is also mold-like and has a moisture-resistant, which can sustain it for weeks without damage.
The active ingredient in this chunk is diphacinone, which acts slow enough that multiple mice can eat the chunks and spread the poisoned bait to the nest.
PROS
Made from Human Grade Food Chunks
Works Indoors and Outdoors
Mold and Moisture Resistant
Active Ingredient: Diphacinone
CONS
Melts on Hot Days
Exposed
Motomco Jaguar Mouse and Rat Bait Chunks
The Motomco Jaguar Mouse and Rat Bait Chunks, are red chunks that have an active ingredient called Brodifacoum. This ingredient is an anticoagulant that causes slow internal bleeding, giving the mice time to bring it back to the nest and share it with others. The ingredients also work as a desiccant, drying out and mummifying the dead mice, so users aren’t left with a horrible dead mouse smell.
Besides the poison, the Motomco Jaguar bait has an attractive smell and color for rodents like mice and rats. Also, it can be used internally or externally. However, the only downside is that the bait is too exposed, thus making it a threat to be kept around pets and children.
PROS
Active Ingredient: Brodifacoum.
Desiccant Eliminates Dead Smell.
Attractive Smell for Rodents.
CONS
Exposed
Farnam Just One Bite II Bait Chunks
The Farnum Just One Bite II Bait Chunks is an inexpensive way to eliminate mice and rats that plague agricultural buildings and farms, especially during the tough summer months. This bait is inexpensive and comes in an 8 lb. tub, providing enough bait to work for years or treat a massive infestation. While this bait should only be used outside, it’s good at attracting mice thanks to its pungent aroma.
The active ingredient in this bait is another anticoagulant called bromadiolone. This kills rats and mice rapidly, but can still give some time for it to be spread to the rest of the nest. It’s unique in that, it has a great agricultural strength and is meant to be used only externally.
Finally, it works well around buildings and stops an infestation from getting inside.
PROS
Inexpensive.
Active Ingredient: Bromadiolone.
Contains 8 lbs. of Bait.
CONS
Should Only Be Used on Farms.
Neogen Rodenticide Ramik Mouse and Rat Bars
The Neogen Rodenticide Ramik Mouse and Rat Bars are a highly effective bait that can be used indoors and outdoors. The bars are easy to place in less accessible areas, and has enough bait to attract multiple waves of rodents. The bars are mold and moisture resistant, which means they barely decompose and can survive for weeks in a single location.
Each bar is designed to have an alluring scent to entice mice and a pungent fish flavor that is delicious to rodents. The active ingredient is once again a coagulant meant to kill slowly, allowing the poison to be spread throughout the entire nest. Each bar has enough to kill an entire population of 100 mice or rats.
PROS
Mold and Moisture Resistant.
Controls Mice and Rats.
For Indoor and Outdoor Use.
Fish Flavored.
Active Ingredient: Diphacinone.
CONS
Exposed Design.
Conclusion
There are tons of different mouse baits offered by manufacturers, but, one of the best amongst them is the Neogen Rodenticide Ramik Mouse and Rat Bars. This is because these bars can survive in multiple environments and do not decompose as rapidly as other baits.
That’s not all, as these bars can also be used indoors and outdoors, making them essential for not only stopping but also preventing a mouse infestation. Finally, they are slow-acting and will kill a mouse over time, giving the rodent enough time to bring it back to the nest, before killing them all.
When all else fails, try the bars.
FAQs
What is the most effective mouse poison?
While poison can indeed kill rodents very effectively, there are certain poisons that are much better suited to the task.
Poison can kill any rodent; but there are some types of poison that work better on certain species than others. Also, poison does not always absorb into the system when ingested (it sometimes simply passes through), making it important to properly place the poison in order to achieve the desired results.
There are a variety of poisons on the market, but some of the most common include:
- Rodenticide pellets or blocks
- Liquid poison
- Bait (usually a food laced with poison)
Other types of poison can include anticoagulants (slow acting poison), compressed gases (lethal), and poisons impregnated within the substrate (effective but dangerous).
What is the fastest mice poison?
When it comes to speed, some poisons are faster than others.
The quickest poison for mice is zinc phosphide. It can kill a mouse in just minutes after ingestion. Zinc phosphide is a good poison for this purpose, but it must be handled with care. It is poisonous to humans and pets, so it is important to keep it out of reach of children and household pets. It is also poisonous to fish, so it must not be used near bodies of water.
Phosphide poison is often disguised as food to attract the mouse. This poison may be more hazardous than others because immature mice are more likely to consume it.
Other fast-acting poisons include strychnine and anticoagulant poisons (rodenticides that cause internal bleeding). Anticoagulants poison mice more slowly, and can poison them for several days.
Anticoagulant poison may be the best poison to use against mice. It is slower than zinc phosphide but still kills the rodent quickly.
How do you make homemade mouse poison?
There are several ways to make homemade mouse poison. One way is to mix boric acid and sugar together. Boric acid is an irritant poison that can be found at a store. Another way is to mix flour and water together. This homemade poison causes the mouse's stomach to break down over time, causing them to slowly starve.
Homemade poison is generally less effective than anticoagulants especially because it takes longer for it to kill mice, making poison that is poison more effective.
Store bought poison should be put in areas where mice eat and will likely try to find food, such as near their nest, behind the refrigerator, or between walls.
What do professionals use to kill mice?
Professional exterminators use a wide array of tools to kill mice. They come in many shapes and sizes, while some are designed for long-term use, others are intended for short-term use.
For a professional exterminator, the most important tool is bait. A professional mouse trap is the #1 most important tool because it ensures that you will be able to kill the mouse without harming your family or pets.
Professional exterminators also use traps for mice and rats, poisons, household cleaners and sprays and traps for other pests like cockroaches or ants.
Overhead wire is one of the more humane options but can be difficult if you don't have access to a tree or power line nearby. One good thing about this method is that it kills the mouse quickly and you can leave it for other animals, pets, and humans who might come across it later on down the line.
Tony Manhart is a passionate gardener who has been tending to gardens for over 20 years. He takes pride in creating beautiful outdoor spaces with plants, trees, and shrubs that can thrive in any environment. He loves to share his knowledge with others and has taught classes on gardening basics and advanced techniques. He is committed to sustainability, using natural and organic methods to create and maintain gardens. He also works with local organizations to create green spaces for communities. When he’s not gardening, Tony enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.
