We don't use any bait at all. My husband observed the rodents (mostly mice) run along a wall. So he places traps just inside the garage doors along the wall - he catches most mice there. And other places along the wall like under the kitchen cabinet foot space (in the corners so I don't get my toes in the traps!) and along the wall from the basement stairs.

And we too (actually my dear husband does ) toss the dead mice out into the woods and the bodies are always gone the next day.

Love these traps! We use the can cheese. Had an older bottle of it and it works great for the varmints.