Awesome story and welcome, though I'm a n00b too.
I read somewhere online, and it seemed reputable at the time, but don't recall where, that if you use f/t vermin and are having trouble feeding, to smash the head open a bit or cut it open to let a bit of blood and guts out to help permeate the air with the scent of "food". Perhaps a bit crude sounding. I'm sure everyone here will tell me how crazy I am for suggesting this crude approach. Its just an option that may or may not yield results.