Bait for traps for Voles

[RSKY]

Have traps out for voles because they are eating my rose bushes. What do I need to bait them with?

 

[davesl708]

peanut butter and oatmeal. They can't resist.

 

[the old grind]

Peanut butter may attract ants, and being swarmed with them may deter other critters. I'm using black oil sunflower seeds for mice, voles, chipmunks, and reds squirrels (two trap sizes) I set/check the garage & barn from Mar thru' October.

Must 'run my line' (check/re-bait) daily. Traps visible from above tend to draw birds, can lead to clean-outs or snapped/empty traps. (tuck 'em low.) Sparrows find the bait when scrounging. One non-target kill so far (a first) was a chickadee. (barn door was open)

It's been a slow Spring here. Two mice, one vole (garage), four c'munks and one 'red' so far. Many mice caught in other locations (barns, sheds, garages) that I set for neighbors.

Best to tie a cord, chain, etc to trap lest a larger critter steal your catch and leave the trap somewhere in the bush. tog

btw, some guy on the interweb uses pre-chewed Tootsie Rolls for mouse bait on wooden 'snaps'. Surprising that mice will ignore human scent(s) but it seems to work very well. A trick (his too) with many solid baits is to attach bait firmly (wrap & tuck into trigger). I've hot-glued grains, nuts, etc to pans and sometimes a popped corn kernal smeared with peanut butter. After they eat scattered bait they go for the fixed bit & you got 'em.

 

[BigCountry1689]

I use a castor oil pellet specifically for voles and moles comes in a 40 lb. bag. I put it in my garden about every 2 months to keep them out of the carrots and potatoes. Work great and organic.