When you have a problem with mice in your home, it is almost second nature to set up traps or poison to get rid of them without a second thought. You might notice the problem persists, and that is actually happening for a reason. This leaves a question—are mice attracted to poison? Although poison kills mice, it also attracts them at the same time. This deterrent that you set up to fix the problem could eventually make the problem worse if the mice are able to recognize that the poison is deadly.
How Mouse Poison Works
There are many different kinds of mouse poison available. If you have ever purchased it before, you likely did not consider the brand because you were focused on getting rid of the problem—the mouse infestation. Many people do not consider what happens after setting out this poison and how you are inevitably going to see more mice in your home as it works to attract them.
The poison is not simply a block of toxic chemicals. Mice would not go near it, as they are aware of what is toxic and what is actual food. Most mouse poisons contain some kind of grains or peanut butter to make it seem more appealing. This is why you might see more mice after you put out poison. The idea is that the mouse will think the entire block is edible, taking a few nibbles. But, what happens if this does not work?
Mice can be very clever creatures. If they realize that something is off about the poison block, they might not want to go near it. Instead, you will still have mice in your home because the ingredients used to lure them in did their job. Rather than consuming the poison block, they will scour for other edible food they can find.
Essentially, mouse poison is simply used as bait. It is a trial and error situation because they are not always going to take the bait. Instead, they might just avoid the general area where you place the poison and continue exploring your home. If this happens, your problem is only going to worsen.
Bait Stations
Many people opt to use bait stations to trap and kill mice because the poison is contained but wonder—do bait stations attract more mice? You might not want to leave blocks of poison around your home, especially if you have children or pets who can get ahold of it. This is a safety risk, and you do have to be very careful when using any kind of toxic chemical to get rid of an infestation.
Although bait stations should not attract an excess of mice, they do work similarly to the way mouse poison does. The difference is in what happens after the mouse supposedly eats the bait. With a bait station, they will die in the enclosed area. This tends to be more convenient because you will not have to worry about getting rid of dead mice by hand as you do with a poison block approach. The bait station is meant to trap them inside.
In theory, this seems like the better option. Mice can be very clever, so it is not a guarantee they will stay trapped within the confinement of the bait station. Even after eating the bait, they still might be able to escape. If this happens, you will still need to deal with the clean-up that comes from the aftermath. This can be dangerous to children and pets because you will have dead, poisoned mice around your home, much like you would when you set up the poison on its own.
There is really no fool-proof way to get rid of mice since they are so clever, but bait stations do have the upper hand because they are meant to make the process easier and more convenient for you. One more perk to using a bait station is that most can be used indoors and outdoors. Even if mice are not inside your home, this is definitely something you want to prevent. If you notice mice outdoors, it is only a matter of time before they figure out a way to get inside.
The Overview: Are Mice Attracted to Poison?
Are mice attracted to poison? The answer is yes. This is what it is meant to do since you need to lure them in with an added ingredient that seems appealing. Will it attract more mice and worsen your infestation? This cannot be guaranteed because it does depend on whether or not the mice will take the bait. Do bait stations attract more mice? The main difference between mouse poison blocks and a bait station is that one is not contained and the other is contained. The one you use will be determined by your personal preference.
Of course, there are other options you can rely on if you are uncomfortable with using poison to kill mice. Your local exterminator can be a very helpful resource. There are certain repellents that can be sprayed around your home to prevent mice from coming inside. This is also helpful because it is non-toxic to humans and pets. If you have a persistent problem, you can also opt to use glue traps. Although this option is not as humane, it does trap the mice and eventually kill them because they cannot escape. You will only have to worry about discarding the trap.
It is a tricky problem to deal with, but having options helps. Depending on how bad the infestation is and how you feel ethically, you can choose to deal with the mice as you see fit. Keep in mind that your location and climate also have a lot to do with the likelihood that mice will come into your home. Those who live near fields or other open areas are at a higher risk of having a mouse infestation. This happens naturally since mice live in fields.
There are also certain seasons that seem to attract more mice. They often seek warm places, such as your home, during colder months. This is why you might have more of a problem in the wintertime. By learning more about how poison and bait stations work, you should be able to make the best choice to keep mice out of your home.