Andy Montoya
The idea that cheese is the best bait for rats is a common misconception. While rats do eat cheese, they are generally more attracted to sweet-smelling foods. Their preference for sweets means that they are more likely to go for chocolate, fruits, and sticky candy like marshmallows over cheese. Rats are also known to prefer foods that are high in protein and fat, so peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and meats like bacon or beef jerky are also effective baits. The best bait to use also depends on the type of rat being trapped.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness of cheese as bait | Cheese is not the best bait for rats. |
| Best baits for rats | Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, meats like bacon or beef jerky, sticky candy, and sweets. |
| Why cheese is considered a good bait | Cheese was historically left on open shelves to ripen, making it easily accessible to rodents. Cartoons and folk tales have also perpetuated this idea. |
| Downsides of using cheese as bait | Cheese can cause rats to have an upset stomach and loose stools. Softer cheeses can be potentially fatal as rats may choke on them. Cheese also tends to harden within a few hours, making it unappealing to rats. |
| Alternative products | Fresh 'n Tasty Mouse & Rat Attractant by The Big Cheese is a prune-based attractant that is safe to use around children and pets. |
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What You'll Learn
Rats are omnivores and will eat almost anything
Rats are omnivores, meaning they will eat both meat and plants. In the wild, they forage for nuts, seeds, eggs, baby birds, and any meat they can scavenge. Similarly, indoor rats are drawn to meat and will eat bacon or hot dogs. Rats also enjoy high-fat foods, including peanut butter, which is rich in protein, fats, and carbs. Peanut butter is so attractive to rats that it is often used to bait traps. Rats will also eat cheese, but it is not their first choice. They will only eat it if they are hungry and no other preferable food source is available.
Rats have individual preferences, just like humans, and will often choose foods such as bananas, cookies, or standard rat pellets instead of cheese. Rats also enjoy sweets, with chocolate and fruits featuring high on their list of delicacies, and grain forming a staple part of their diet. Rats also like high-protein foods, and meats such as beef jerky are effective in traps.
Rats should not be fed blue cheese, as it contains Penicillium mould, which fosters mycotoxins. While the levels of mycotoxins in commercially available blue cheese are not harmful to humans, they could harm rats, especially over long periods.
If you are trying to attract rats, it is best to use foods they are most attracted to, such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, or meats like bacon or beef jerky. Rats are also drawn to pet food, which is designed to be high in protein, fats, and carbs.
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Rats are attracted to sweets and carbohydrates
While rat traps are commonly baited with cheese, it is not the best option. Rats are strongly attracted to sweets and carbohydrates. They are drawn to cereals, rice, quinoa, and birdseed because these foods are rich in carbohydrates and easy to nibble on. Fruits and berries are other sweet treats that attract rats due to their high sugar content.
Rats also have a well-developed taste for starch-derived polysaccharides, such as Polycose. They prefer Polycose to sucrose and other sugars at low concentrations. Rats also have a sweet tooth, so a tiny bit of chocolate or a jam smear can work to attract them. However, these should be used sparingly as they can also attract ants and other unwanted pests.
Peanut butter is another option that is commonly used to bait rat traps. Its aroma is irresistible to rats, and its sticky nature forces the rodents to stay at the trap for longer. Other effective baits include beef jerky, hazelnut spread, and chocolate.
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Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, and meats are better rat attractors
While cheese is often used as rat bait, other foods may be more effective in attracting rats. Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, and meats are better rat attractors than cheese for several reasons.
First, rats are opportunistic eaters and will consume a wide variety of foods that humans eat. They are attracted to garbage scraps, bread, meat, fruits, vegetables, and even pet food. Rats will also eat non-edible items such as worn clothes and leather if they smell or taste like food. This means that a wider variety of foods can be used to attract rats compared to just cheese.
Second, the eating habits of rats vary between species. While some rats prefer seeds, grains, and fruits, other rats are more avid meat eaters. Norway rats, for example, are less picky eaters compared to black rats. By using meat as bait, you are more likely to attract a wider range of rat species.
Third, rats have a strong sense of smell, and stinky, sulfurous smells are particularly attractive to them. While cheese can be made more pungent to increase its attractiveness, meats like rotten fish, poultry, and red meat may already have a strong odour that rats find irresistible.
Additionally, the shape of the bait is important. Rats tend to hold food in their paws and eat the middle, letting the ends fall to the floor. Longer, thinner foods are preferred over nuggets or pellets. Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and chocolate can be spread out thinly, making them more appealing to rats than a chunk of cheese.
Lastly, the effectiveness of any bait depends on the type of rat you are trying to catch. While Norway rats might be attracted to the smell of stinky cheese, black rats may prefer meat or seeds. Therefore, it is essential to know the species of rat you are targeting before choosing the best bait.
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Stinky, sulfurous smells attract rats more than cheese
Rats are attracted to poor sanitation and food sources. While cheese is often used as bait in traps, it is not the best attractant. Rats are extremely intelligent and have highly evolved ways to determine if they want to eat something. They will usually nibble on anything new they smell first and wait to see how they feel to determine if it is safe to eat. Rats are also highly evolved alongside humans and can easily become comfortable with repellent smells.
Rats have an extremely acute sense of smell and can detect odours down to parts per million. They are also avid scavengers. Some of the most common scents that attract rats include birdseed, garbage, compost bins, and dog poop. Dog poop is a major food source for rats as it is only 60% digested, leaving a great food source full of vitamins.
Rats are also attracted to food left out on counters, dirty dishes in the sink, or in the backyard following a barbecue. They will eat cheese if they come across it, but typically only if they are hungry and no other preferable food source is available. Rats prefer foods that are high in protein and fat, such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, and meats like bacon or beef jerky. Sweets are also a favourite, with chocolate and fruits ranking high on their list of delicacies.
While certain smells are believed to repel rats, there is no reasonable way to keep them away using only scents. However, strong fragrances such as peppermint can be effective repellents. Additionally, the smell of potential predators, such as dogs, cats, foxes, or raccoons, can help deter rats.
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Cheese is not the best rat attractor
Although cheese is commonly believed to be the best bait for rats, this is not the case. The myth of cheese-loving rats likely originated when people routinely stored food in cellars. While wooden barrels and earthen jars kept grains safely out of reach, and meat was hung from the rafters to cure, wheels of homemade cheese were left on open shelves to ripen, making them easy targets for hungry rodents. When people discovered gnaw marks on their cheese, they assumed that rats had munched on their preferred snack. However, it was simply a matter of accessibility.
Rats are known to be omnivorous and highly adaptable, consuming plants, vegetables, meat, garbage, and even dairy. They have a strong sense of smell, which they use to locate food sources. While they do eat cheese, they are actually more attracted to sweet-smelling and carbohydrate-rich foods. According to the National Pest Management Association, "Mice will consume almost any human food but prefer grain-based products."
Experts recommend using alternative baits such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread, chocolate, bacon, beef jerky, or sticky candies like marshmallows. These options are often more enticing to rats due to their high sugar or protein content. Additionally, the sticky nature of peanut butter can force rodents to stay at the trap for longer, increasing the chances of capture.
It is worth noting that the choice of bait depends on the type of rat being targeted. For example, Norway rats, also known as brown rats, are less picky about their food choices and can survive in extreme weather conditions. In contrast, black rats are smaller, have pointy noses and large ears, and are more selective eaters. Understanding the habits and preferences of the specific rat species can help in selecting the most effective bait.
While cheese may not be the ideal bait for rats, there are specially designed attractants available, such as The Big Cheese Fresh 'n Tasty Mouse & Rat Attractant, which can enhance the catch rate of traps without causing harm to children or pets.
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Frequently asked questions
No, cheese is not the best rat attractor. Rats are omnivores and will eat meat and plants. They enjoy high-fat foods such as nuts and peanut butter, which is often used by pest control professionals to bait traps. Rats will eat cheese but only if no other preferable food source is available.
Rats are attracted to foods that are high in protein and fat, such as meats like bacon, beef jerky, and hot dogs, as well as peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and chocolate.
It is believed that the idea that rats love cheese stems from centuries ago when meats were hung for salting and grain was contained, leaving cheese as the only available food for mice to raid. This idea was perpetuated by folktales and art depicting mice with cheese, which eventually made its way into cartoons and movies.
There are specifically designed attractants that are poison-free and safe for use around children and pets. These attractants are often prune-based and can be used to increase the catch rate of any type of rat trap.
