Catching a mouse in the house can be quite a challenge. The use of food bait is a good first option, as it allows you to capture the little rodent naturally and without harming it.
There are different types of traps and baits for catching mice, and that’s what our mouse exterminators are talking to you about today.
How to trap a mouse: the best traps
It’s usually easy to tell if you have mice in your home, but it’s not always easy to eliminate them. Using traps is usually the best way to catch a mouse. There are different types of trap, each with its own specific purpose.
Spring-loaded mouse trap
The spring-loaded mousetrap is the classic one. This trap is designed with a small wooden board superimposed with a spring-loaded metal bar that is triggered once the rodent bites the bait.
Mouse bait stations
A bait station is a secure device used to control rodent populations, such as mice and rats. It takes the form of a durable plastic or metal box, designed to hold rodenticide bait while preventing access by children, pets and other non-target animals. The structure of the bait station allows rodents to enter and consume the bait: they then emerge and later die from the effects of the poison.
This is the most suitable trap for a mouse infestation, as it targets several pests rather than just a single mouse.
Live-catch mouse trap
Live-catch mouse traps are small cages generally made of iron or steel wire. It is used to trap rodents with bait. These mousetraps are safe for both humans and mice, as they simply capture the animal, leaving you free to release it back into the wild afterwards. This type of trap can capture one or more mice at a time.
Electric mouse traps
Electric mouse traps are another solution for catching mice in your home. The trap is a small plastic box into which bait is placed. Once inside the box, the mouse receives an electric shock that kills it instantly.
Homemade mouse trap with bucket
This trap features a 30-centimeter bucket. To make it, take a small roll of cardboard, such as a toilet roll or paper towel roll, and place it on the edge of a table.
Tip: the inlet of the roll should be resting on the table, while the outlet of the roll should be in the air, above the bucket.
Next, place a bait at the end of the roller outlet overhanging the bucket. The mouse will squeeze through the roller, grab the bait and, under its own weight, drop the roller (and itself) into the bucket. All that remains is to capture it alive and set it free.
Mice climb easily on rough surfaces. That’s why it’s so important to place your bucket high up.
Ultrasonic devices
This trap doesn’t capture mice in the true sense of the word: although this term is used, the most accurate would be to say ultrasonic repellent. It simply repels the animal with irritating ultrasound, imperceptible to humans.
Mice, which are exceptionally adaptable, sometimes become familiar with this kind of device. Their effectiveness is not as high as other mouse traps, but they are a possible way of keeping a mouse away without a real trap.
What you should not do when trying to capture a mouse
At Elite Pest Control, we’re really not fond of glue traps.
Using glue traps to catch mice has several significant drawbacks. These traps are often considered cruel, as they immobilize mice on an adhesive surface and lead them to a slow, painful death from dehydration, starvation or suffocation. This method can cause intense stress to the mice, who will desperately try to free themselves, sometimes resulting in serious injury but not necessarily death…
In terms of hygiene, sticky traps are also problematic. If captured mice are not quickly removed, the traps can become a hotbed of bacteria and odors. What’s more, these traps are not selective and may catch pets or other non-target animals.
How to remove a mouse from a glue trap
To unstick a mouse from a glue trap, gently apply vegetable oil or baby oil to the stuck parts (not the mouse itself) to neutralize the adhesive, then gently detach the mouse using a soft cloth. Once released, place the mouse in a box and release it in a safe place away from your home. Don’t forget to wash your hands! No matter how cute they are, mice are carriers of disease.
How to get a mouse out of hiding
To get a mouse out of its hiding place, you need to use a combination of tricks: 1) keep quiet so as not to frighten it, and 2) bait it with attractive food.
So now’s the perfect time to tell you all about the best baits for catching mice!
What’s the best baits for catching mice
Mice are not fussy eaters. In fact, you probably already have a number of mouse baits in your cupboards. Any food that mice eat can be used, but fat-rich foods are often recommended. Here are just a few of the best food you can use on a trap to catch a mouse:
- peanut butter;
- bacon;
- dried fruit;
- fresh fruit;
- chocolate;
- cereals (wheat, rice, oats, etc.);
- sausages.
Various other condiments can also be used to bait mice. These include Viandox (a beef-flavored savory sauce) and even barbecue sauce.
Peanut butter
Known for its strong smell and attractive taste, this peanut-based paste is highly effective. Peanut butter is the best mouse bait you can find in your house, so make the most of it!
Bacon
With its smoky, salty flavor, bacon is a popular option with rodents, especially when lightly cooked to release its aroma. We’re not telling you to cook them a star-studded meal either!
Dried fruit
Like raisins or dried apricots, these fruits retain a concentrated sweetness that makes them a good bait for mice because of their sweet smell.
Fresh fruit
Like pieces of apple or banana, they offer a natural, sweet fragrance that can be very attractive to mice.
Chocolate
Especially dark chocolate, which gives off a strong sweet, chocolaty scent, attracting rodents eager for rich flavors.
Cereals (wheat, rice, oats, etc.)
These grains are appreciated for their texture and taste, attracting mice looking for a constant food source.
Sausages
Their strong salty and spicy smell attracts mice looking for protein and fat.
We’re always happy to provide advice to help you make informed decisions. However, if you can’t get rid of the mice in your home, it’s a good idea to call in a residential exterminator to make sure the rodents don’t come back.
What about commercial mouse baits?
Commercial toxic baits also make excellent mice baits. Toxic baits sold in supermarkets fall into 2 categories:
- Anticoagulants;
- Hypothermia-inducing products.
Anticoagulant mouse baits cause fatal hemorrhaging when the animal is injured after ingestion. Hypothermia-inducing products, on the other hand, are very fast-acting. In general, they induce certain death less than 15 minutes after digestion.
Commercial toxic baits typically come in blocks, granules or pastes, and mice love them. Practical, reusable and ready to use, these baits are also resistant to weather and extreme temperature variations. So, logically, they’re among the best baits around.
Best practices for the use of toxic baits always include placing baits in secure baiting stations to prevent unintentional access by children or pets. It’s also essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter, including recommended quantities and suggested locations for bait placement. Last but not least, regular monitoring of bait stations and replenishment when necessary ensure continued effectiveness while minimizing environmental risks.
Household baits fit directly onto mouse traps. However, they should be secured with wire or glue to ensure that they are well anchored and that the rodent does not leave without triggering the mouse trap mechanism.
Toxic commercial baits should preferably be placed in a quiet, low-traffic area, directly on the ground, on or under a surface frequented by mice.
When to replace baits?
Household baits should be replaced every 2 days. If you notice that your food bait is ineffective, you can always replace it with nesting material.
Commercial toxic baits, on the other hand, have a shelf life of 3 months, so there’s no need to replace them before then.
With Elite Pest Control, you don’t have to wait that long! We intervene for emergency extermination in a discreet manner so as not to alert the neighborhood. Contact us today for a fast, free quote!
