# Why aren’t our mouse traps working at all?
**URL:** https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615
**Category:** Rodents, Reptiles & Bats
**Created:** [January 20, 2026, 6:28am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615 "2026-01-20T06:28:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GreenLineMess](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/GreenLineMess)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:28am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/1 "2026-01-20T06:28:42Z")
Hey everyone,
I’m getting pretty frustrated and could use some insight. We’ve set multiple mouse traps around the house, mostly along walls and behind appliances, but they’re being ignored completely. No snapped traps, no bait missing, nothing.
Here’s what I’m wondering:
- Are mice smart enough to avoid traps once they’ve seen them?
- Does bait choice really make that big of a difference?
- Could trap placement be the real issue?
- At what point do traps just stop being effective?
Would love to hear what finally worked for others, because right now this feels like a losing battle.
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### Author:  [@SunshineSkeptic](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/SunshineSkeptic)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/2 "2026-01-20T06:33:20Z")
In my experience, trap placement matters more than bait. If it’s not directly in their travel path, they’ll just walk around it.
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### Author:  [@CuriousCat99](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/CuriousCat99)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:37am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/3 "2026-01-20T06:37:06Z")
I had mice that completely ignored peanut butter but went crazy for chocolate. Might sound odd, but switching bait made all the difference.
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### Author:  [@SoilSafeSandra](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/SoilSafeSandra)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:46am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/4 "2026-01-20T06:46:06Z")
Sometimes mice get used to seeing traps if they’ve been out too long. I rotate locations every few days and that seems to help.
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### Author:  [@DIY\_Dave](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/DIY_Dave)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/5 "2026-01-20T06:50:07Z")
Are you sure it’s mice and not rats? Rat traps and mouse traps aren’t interchangeable, and that mistake cost me weeks.
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### Author:  [@BugCurious](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/BugCurious)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:58am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/6 "2026-01-20T06:58:08Z")
@DIY Dave Good point. I also learned that using too much bait can actually make them steal it without triggering the trap.
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### Author:  [@BasementBattler](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/BasementBattler)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 6:59am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/7 "2026-01-20T06:59:43Z")
Old traps can lose sensitivity. I replaced a few that looked fine but weren’t snapping properly, and suddenly started catching mice again.
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### Author:  [@GreenThumb\_Guru](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/GreenThumb_Guru)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 7:02am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/8 "2026-01-20T07:02:32Z")
Another thing people overlook is alternative food sources. If they’ve got access to crumbs or pet food, traps won’t look very appealing.
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### Author:  [@NoahJohnson](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/NoahJohnson)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/9 "2026-01-20T07:07:26Z")
I had luck pre-baiting without setting the trap for a day or two. Once they got comfortable feeding there, I set it and caught one overnight.
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### Author:  [@ZapperDad](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/ZapperDad)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/10 "2026-01-20T07:13:29Z")
@GreenLineMess Sealing entry points helped more than traps ever did. Traps alone won’t solve the problem if new mice keep coming in.
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### Author:  [@HandsOffHelp](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/HandsOffHelp)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2026, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/why-aren-t-our-mouse-traps-working-at-all/20615/11 "2026-01-20T07:17:22Z")
If nothing changes after a couple of weeks, it might be time for a professional inspection. Sometimes traps fail because the problem is bigger than it looks.