Catching a mouse in the house can be a real challenge. If you’re currently grappling with an infestation, chances are you’re wondering how to trap the mice.
There are many different ways to catch a mouse. You can choose from a wide variety of traps and bait. However, it’s not always easy to determine which method best suits your situation and how to use it most effectively.
In this article, the mouse exterminators at Elite Pest Control explain how to catch a mouse with different traps and bait.
1. Which traps to use to catch a mouse
It’s usually fairly simple to determine whether you have mice in your home, but eliminating the infestation can be less straightforward. Using traps is a great way to catch mice. There are many different types of traps, each of which is used for a specific purpose.
1.1 Traps to catch and kill mice
Mouse traps are a good option because they are non-toxic and allow you to easily retrieve the mouse before disposing of it.
For each of the traps listed below, take the time to read the instructions to avoid risks and ensure best results.
1.1.1 Classic mouse traps
The classic mouse trap consists of a small wooden board with a spring-loaded metal bar that is triggered when the rodent eats the bait.
You don’t need to be an extermination expert to set a mouse trap—the procedure is very simple.
1.1.2 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.
1.2 Traps to catch and release mice
In addition to traps that kill mice, there is also a category of traps on the market that capture mice without killing them. If you’re looking for a more humane solution, these traps are ideal. You can use them to catch mice in your home and then release them outside.
1.2.1 Cage traps
Cage traps are usually made of iron or steel wire. Bait is placed in the cage, and a mechanism traps the mouse once it’s inside. Cage traps are safe for both humans and mice because they merely capture the animal, leaving you free to release it into the wild afterwards. This type of trap can be used to capture multiple mice at once.
1.2.2 Box traps
Box traps are similar to cage traps. They look different, but work the same way—a mouse enters the box and the door closes behind it, trapping it inside.
1.2.3 Ultrasonic devices
Ultrasonic devices seem like something out of a science-fiction movie. These devices don’t actually trap mice, but they repel them using irritating ultrasonic waves that humans can’t hear.
Mice are exceptionally adaptable and can sometimes get used to these devices, so they aren’t as effective as mouse traps. However, they are still one way to deter mice without using traps.
1.3 Homemade mouse traps
You can also design your own mouse trap! All it takes is a little imagination.
1.3.1 Bucket traps
Catching a mouse this way is simple—take a bucket more than 30 cm deep and attach a ramp that starts on the ground and leans against the edge of the bucket. Then, place bait at the bottom of the bucket. The food-loving mouse will climb up the ramp and fall into the bucket to get at the bait, but won’t be able to get back out. You can then take the mouse outside and free it far from the house.
1.3.2 Cardboard tube traps
This trap also requires a bucket or garbage can deeper than 30 cm. Take a toilet paper or paper towel roll and balance it on the edge of a table.
Note that one end of the roll should be resting on the table and the other should be jutting out into empty space over the bucket.
Place bait at the end of the roll that juts out over the bucket. The mouse will slip into the roll, grab the bait, and the weight of its body will make both roll and mouse fall into the bucket. You will then be able to release it back into the wild.
Mice can jump and climb rough surfaces easily, which is why it’s important to use a deep bucket or garbage can.
1.4 How to set mouse traps
Having mouse traps is not enough—you need to know how to set the traps in a way that gives you the best chance of success.
Mouse traps are most effective if they are placed perpendicularly along the walls and in areas where the rodents are active. You can put them in the attic and other rooms where mice are likely to hide.
We recommend putting down a significant number of traps and changing their placement every 2 days. Mice are clever—if you leave the traps in the same place for too long, they’ll get into the habit of avoiding them.
2. Types of bait to use in traps
There are many different types of bait you can use to attract mice, but unless they’re toxic, they must be used with traps in order to be effective. Otherwise, you’ll just be feeding the pests. Unlike the strategy of keeping mice away, bait attracts mice in order to capture them.
2.1 Homemade bait
Mice aren’t picky eaters. You most likely already have several options in your pantry that can be used as mouse bait.
There are many common household foods that can be used to bait mice. Here are a few options:
- Bacon
- Peanut butter or peabutter
- Dried fruit
- Fresh fruit
- Chocolate
- Grains (wheat, rice, oats, etc.)
- Lard
- Sausages
There are also condiments that can be used to bait mice. Viandox (a salty beef-flavoured sauce) and barbecue sauce work well.
If you’re still wondering what else you might put in a mouse trap, you can try baiting them with any of the food they have gotten into during the infestation.
Any food mice eat can be used as bait.
2.1.1 Mice and cheese: myth or true love story?
People tend to believe that cheese is the best bait for mice, but this is more of a myth than reality. Cheese is no more effective as bait than any of the other options listed above.
2.2. Commercial poison bait
Commercial poisons also make excellent bait. There are 2 categories of commercial poison bait available in stores:
- Anticoagulants
- Products that cause hypothermia
Anticoagulant mouse bait causes a fatal hemorrhage when the mouse next injures itself after consuming it. Hypothermia-inducing products, on the other hand, work very quickly. They generally cause certain death less than 15 minutes after digestion.
Commercial poison bait typically comes in blocks, pellets or paste, and mice love it.
Convenient, reusable and ready to use, these types of bait can also withstand extreme temperatures and weather, so It’s no wonder that they are considered one of the best types of mouse bait.
2.2.1 Commercial poison bait warning
As its name suggests, commercial poison bait is toxic. It must be handled carefully and placed in locations that are inaccessible to children and pets.
Do you have a question? Take advantage of a free consultation with our experts!
2.3 How to use bait
Homemade bait should be placed directly in the mouse traps. It’s a good idea to secure the bait with wire or glue so that the mouse won’t take the food and run without triggering the trap.
Commercial poison bait should be placed directly on the ground in a quiet, low-traffic area, on or under a surface where mice are active.
2.3.1 When to refresh the bait
Homemade bait should be replaced every 2 days. If your bait is proving ineffective, you can always try replacing it with nesting material.
Commercial poison bait lasts 3 months. Refreshing it before then is pointless.
Contact Elite Pest Control to get rid of mice for good
There are many types of bait and traps that can be used to catch mice in your home. Some will be more effective than others, because not all mice react the same way. Don’t hesitate to try several methods in order to find the one that works best.
Catching mice will help you get rid of them, but it can take a lot of time and energy. If you’d prefer not to do it yourself, contact our professional exterminators without delay. The Elite Pest Control team will work with diligence and care to get rid of the mice in your house for good.
