What do rodents eat: myths and reality
Is cheese really a mouse’s favorite?
Children’s stories very often feature mice, which love cheese more than anything else in the world. Another great favorite is the hedgehog, which carries a red apple on its back and takes it home for dinner (and perhaps shares it with its beloved hedgehog mate and little ones). Well, this is where the misconceptions come from, and if we never gain personal experience later on, we may never shake them off for the rest of our lives. Not that it would be such a sad life if we never found out what mice actually eat, but it never hurts to learn something small every day.
Now let’s see what nine out of ten rodent nutritionists recommend.
What does a mouse eat?
The house mouse most readily eats cereals, seeds, and oily nuts, but it is not picky. In the kitchen, it will happily find crumbs, flour, oats, sweets, dog or cat food, and birdseed as well.
It does not necessarily eat a lot at once: instead, it nibbles in small amounts in several places. It can also meet much of its fluid needs from food, which is why it can thrive in a dry storage room or pantry. Even so, a dripping tap or a water bowl left out overnight is also an attraction for it.
What does a rat eat?
The rat has an even broader menu to choose from. Grain, pet food, meat, fruit, compost, and household waste can all do the trick. If it can choose from several types of food, it will not necessarily eat the spoiled leftovers first: it may just as well prefer fresh, energy-rich bites.
Compared to a mouse, it needs a more regular source of water. That is why, besides trash and food, it is worth checking dripping taps, stagnant water, animals’ drinking bowls, and any easily accessible outdoor water sources.
So why do they chew on plastic and wires?
Not because it tastes good. Rodents’ incisors grow continuously, so they need to wear them down regularly. They also use chewing to open a path through packaging or building structures, and they may also tear apart soft materials for nesting.
That is why cardboard boxes, plastic bags, wood, insulation, or electrical wires may be chewed even when the animal is not actually feeding on them.
What should you put in a mouse trap?
A small amount of fresh peanut butter, nuts, oatmeal, dried fruit, chocolate, or a securely fixed small piece of bacon can make good bait. There is no need to load the trap with too much: a small amount is harder to take without triggering it.
With bait, placement is often more important than the type. Put the trap where you see fresh droppings, chew marks, or regular traffic along the wall. With rats, it can help if you leave the new trap out for a few days without setting it, because the animal may be cautious about unfamiliar objects.
What makes your house less attractive?
- Keep food, pet food, and birdseed in a sturdy, tightly sealed container.
- Do not leave pet food or accessible water out overnight.
- Clean up crumbs, spilled seed, and feed.
- Keep the trash bin and compost closed.
- Eliminate drips and standing water.
Locking away food on its own will not make the animals already inside disappear, but it makes staying there much less worthwhile for them, and a buffet that is constantly open will not improve the effectiveness of traps or other control methods either.
If the rodent is moving inside the wall, read what you can do against rodents that have moved behind drywall. If you hear attic noises, we recommend this: what should you do if something is scratching in the attic?
If you want to keep rodents away without poison, first check out our ultrasonic rodent repellent test, then learn about the Vadalarm ultrasonic rodent repellent.
