I have a few DOC 200 traps that I am baiting with peanut butter (smeared up high at the back on the side of the trap). Most times that I check these traps the bait has gone but nothing has been caught. I have checked (dropping my glove onto the plate) that the traps is working okay and it is.
Could mice be going across the plate without activating the trap?
I have a spare Victor trap, I wondered if I should put that inside the DOC200 (it will fit inside where the predators walk in) and try and catch what ever is taking the bait? Would that run the risk though of something I don’t want to catch going in and getting caught?
Mice definitely can rob DOC traps of the bait - most traps are set at a trigger weight above average-mouse in order to keep the trap active for larger predators. Some workarounds that others use include:
- attaching one or more mouse-traps in the luring area (screwed down to prevent them moving around) - any mice caught then add as an additional lure for predators
- putting lure inside a container like a LureGard or cheap metal tea infuser - depending on the exact perforation pattern, this may also deter slugs, snails, and other insects.
- using a scent-based lure instead of a food lure (depends what species you’re targeting)
If this doesn’t work, it may be worth checking the calibration weight - I used kitchen scales to get a bundle of old socks to the trigger weight I wanted, then tied a ‘tail’ of flagging tape on so I can lower it gently to the treadle without a bump.