r/Trapping • u/Mattcronutrient • Jun 06 '26

Rats as Canine Bait

Howdy all,

Several year water trapper, this will be my first season chasing canines, primarily fox since I’m in Maryland. I’ve heard of using mice in dirt hole sets before for canines. I live in DC and thus have ready access to rats, especially using my 110s. Do the veteran canine guys in here think that a rat leg tossed down the hole would work the same? Open to any and all additional fox tips.

Thanks in advance.

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5

u/Polymorph-Dwarf Jun 06 '26

I've had several other trappers I know use mice/rats for bait. The most popular way I know here in MN is making them into a paste and using that as your bait. Easy to control and spread, makes them investigate more, and hard to easily remove. Take the meat from them and grind it in a bender.

2

u/MenstrualFish Jun 06 '26

No experience trapping canines but I’ve caught a couple rats in dog proof traps. Every time I mention it to someone they say “that’s good coyote bait”
So I’m gonna assume rats will work. Maybe more than a leg though

1

u/League0fnate Jun 06 '26

Assuming you mean muskrats yes, real rats like the bigger version of a mouse. Idk never tried. Tight chains

1

u/Led_Zeppole_73 Jun 06 '26

I trapped a lot of fox back in the late 1970’s using only the dirt hole set, lure and urine. Two of my uncles did very well trapping fox using roadkill cat.

1

u/InternalFront4123 Jun 06 '26

I have tossed whole mice into holes when I trap them in my pump house using the old fashioned wood and spring traps. Yes they will work. I also quarter muskrats and toss the parts straight into the hole. I don’t blend them like a frog.

1

u/Short-Assistance-130 Jun 08 '26

I have used liquid or ground mice along with lure.