Field Guide & Instructions

Nabber Mini | Mouse Baiting Guide

Baiting a Nabber is fundamentally different. Learn why scent is all that matters, how to choose bait based on your check schedule, and how to get maximum catches.

Baiting a Nabber is a Little Different

With a snap trap and most other trapping products out there, the mouse can touch and see the bait. With a Nabber Mini, it never gets that far. The bait sits in an enclosed basket, and the mouse is dispatched before it ever reaches it. That changes what matters:

Only Scent Matters

Texture, stickiness and taste don't, so any bait works and nothing will foul the mechanism.

How Long It Lasts Matters

The Mini is built to run for months unattended, so the best bait is the one that keeps smelling strong the longest.

Dry Baits Beat Wet Ones

They hold their scent for longer and don't mould or go rancid.

Choose Your Bait by How Often You'll Check

Checking monthly or less
Cabins, RVs, storage, seasonal properties

Use dry, stable baits that keep working without attention:

  • Bird seed mix, or sunflower, pumpkin or hemp seeds
  • Trail mix or unsalted nuts
  • Rolled oats or dry cereal
  • Dry pet food (kibble)
Checking every week or two
Garages, sheds, basements

Dry baits with a stronger scent:

  • Nuts with dried fruit
  • Crackers or granola
  • Jerky or dried meat treats
Checking every few days
Active problems, first week of setup

The strongest scents, which fade or spoil quickly:

  • Peanut butter or hazelnut spread
  • Chocolate
  • Bacon bits
Oily spreads like peanut butter start to go rancid within days and lose their pull, so save them for when you're checking often.

Use Both Bait Baskets

Your Nabber Mini comes with two bait baskets. Load one, keep the second ready, and swap them every few weeks with a different bait. It isn't required, but it keeps the scent fresh and gives mice something new to investigate.

Try Something New

Mice are naturally curious and investigate unfamiliar scents as well as familiar food. In our experience, a bait they haven't smelled before often outperforms whatever is already around them. If one bait has gone quiet, switch to something completely different: sweet for savoury, or seeds for nuts.

Fall and Winter: Add Nesting Material

As temperatures drop, mice look for warm nesting material as well as food. A cotton ball, a tuft of dental floss or some shredded paper in the basket, alongside your bait, adds another reason to investigate.

Tips for Better Results

  • A small amount is enough. A teaspoon fills the basket. More bait doesn't mean more scent.
  • Wear gloves when handling bait, so it carries food scent and not your hands.
  • Place the unit where you see signs of activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks or along walls. Mice follow scent trails left by other mice.
  • Reduce competing food nearby. Sealed pantry goods and pet food put away at night leave your bait as the most interesting scent in the area.

Quick Reference

Bait Scent strength Lasts Best for
Bird seed / seed mix Moderate Longest Set and forget
Trail mix / nuts Moderate–strong Long Set and forget
Dry pet food Strong Long Garages, sheds
Jerky / dried meat Strong Medium Weekly checks
Peanut butter / spreads Very strong Short Frequent checks
Cotton / nesting material — Long Fall and winter add-on

Have questions about baiting in your climate?

Check our complete FAQ or reach out to our Kelowna engineering support team.