What bait is irresistible to mice?

The most irresistible bait to mice is high-fat, high-sugar, and strong-smelling foods that provide a lot of calories in a small amount, because mice are foragers seeking energy-dense foods. Peanut butter is widely considered the number one bait by pest control professionals because it has a strong aroma that travels, it is sticky so mice must work at it and are more likely to trigger a trap, and mice love its fat and protein content. Other highly attractive baits include chocolate especially Nutella, hazelnut spread, bacon, nuts like walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, and small pieces of hot dog or cooked chicken. For sweet tooth, marshmallows, gumdrops, and sweetened cereal also work well. Interestingly, while cartoons show cheese, many mice actually prefer peanut butter and chocolate over cheese, though soft cheese with strong smell can still work. For nesting material bait, cotton balls, dental floss, and small pieces of yarn are irresistible to female mice building nests. The key to making bait irresistible is to use only a pea-sized amount so the mouse must engage with the trigger, to change bait types if mice become trap-shy, and to avoid using gloves that leave strong human scent, although some human scent does not deter them much.