Suggested Natural Animal Baits
Remember to check your trap often, at least once every hour.
We have provided the best natural baits that we know of but there are many more not listed. Professional bait can be purchased also. Remember that trapping is at the trappers’ risk and any information we give does not cover 100% of all situations. We encourage trappers to educate themselves through books, videos or at online sites in order to have the best trapping experience you can. Remember that patience is the best trapping technique available. We also recommend that all trappers contact your local governing body to find any local laws, rules, that would apply in the area where you plan to trap. We sincerely hope you have a happy and successful trapping experience.
Because animals have keen scent they can soon locate bait. The art of selecting and placing the bait is worth all the attention one can give it. Spray trap with apple cider to remove human scent!!
For general field, setting an ear of dry corn and a smoked herring, or peanut butter mixed with molasses spread on whole wheat bread, will attract most varieties of wild animals. These baits will not spoil for a considerable length of time, so you can look at the trap from a distance without having to scent up the vicinity of the trap.
Specific Baits for Different Animals
Because animals have keen scent they can soon locate bait. The art of selecting and placing the bait is worth all the attention one can give it. Spray trap with apple cider to remove human scent!!
For general field, setting an ear of dry corn and a smoked herring, or peanut butter mixed with molasses spread on whole wheat bread, will attract most varieties of wild animals. These baits will not spoil for a considerable length of time, so you can look at the trap from a distance without having to scent up the vicinity of the trap.
Specific Baits for Different Animals
| Armadillo | Meal worms, other worms, or insects enclosed in a little cloth bag, maggots, sardines, fish. |
| Birds | Sunflower seeds or scratch grain. |
| Cat or Bobcat | Fish, meats, oil of catnip, sardines. Poke holes in sardine can top, dribble juice up to trap, put can behind trigger. |
| Chipmunks | Prune pits, unroasted peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, cereal, grains, popcorn. |
| Dogs, Coyotes | Old meat, dog food. |
| Fox, Red and Gray | Rancid fish or meat. |
| Gophers | Peanut butter mixed with molasses, spread on whole wheat bread. |
| Groundhog | Any kind of green vegetable, fresh string beans, sweet corn, lettuce, peas, broccoli. |
| Mink | Chicken head and entrails, fresh fish, fish oil scent, fresh liver. |
| Nutria | Muskmelon or cantaloupe rind, ripe bananas. |
| Opossum | Vegetables, sweet apples, chicken entrails, sardines, crisp bacon, canned cat food, almost anything edible will work. |
| Otter | Fish |
| Porcupine | Apples, salt, carrots, molasses and oatmeal cubes. |
| Rabbit | Fresh vegetables, such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, or apples. In winter time, bread is a good bait. Spraying the inside of the trap with apple cider has also proved effective. |
| Raccoon | Anything of a fishy nature: Sardines, raw fish, etc. Smoked meat, sweet corn or fruit, molasses, peanut butter or honey, peanut butter on raison bread, crisp bacon, marshmallows, strawberry licorice, persimmons, fruit filled breakfast bars. |
| Rats, Large | Cheese, bread and butter, small nuts, cherry pits, oatmeal, sunflower or similar seeds, mixed peanut butter and oatmeal, gum drops, flour. |
| Ringtail or civet cats | Same as raccoon. |
| Skunk | Almost anything edible, chicken entrails, fish, fresh or canned, insect larvae, crisp bacon, eggs. |
| Snapping Turtle | Freshly chopped fish or freshly chopped chicken entrails, also any whole fresh fish pieces. |
| Squirrels | Cereals, nuts, popcorn, crackers, peanut butter or molasses on bread, field corn, oatmeal grains. |
| Voles | Peanut butter mixed with molasses spread on whole wheat bread. |
| Weasels | Fish, fresh liver, chicken entrails. |
| Woodchuck | Any kind of green vegetable, fresh string beans, sweet corn, lettuce, peas. |
