House Mouse 

Deer Mouse

Other Names: Common House Mouse, Domestic House Mouse

Excellent hearing, vision, smell and touch have enabled the house mouse to become highly adapted to living in homes and inside buildings. A 1/4" opening is all they need to enter a building, so they often have access to many places along a building's perimeter.

Identify Damage
Control Options


The best mouse trap bait lures the rodents in for a taste and helps prevent them from taking it without getting trapped. Mice are natural seed eaters, but inside homes they're very attracted to high-calorie sweets and fatty foods.

Tiny bits of peanut butter or soft cheese have always worked well. Stick a pinch or two of marshmallows, gum drops or beef jerky to the trigger and the trap will spring when mice take a bite.

When female mice gather nesting materials in fall and winter, dental floss, yarn and twine attract them to the trap. Tie the fabrics to the trigger, so the trap springs when mice pull on it.

Victor® recommends these baits to trap mice:

Peanut Butter
  • Peanut butter
  • Cheese
  • Marshmallows
  • Gumdrops
  • Beef jerky
  • Nesting materials such as dental floss, yarn or twine