Mouse Traps – 5 Things To Know Before You Buy One
When all the telling signs are there, there’s no time to waste in bringing home the mouse traps! There are few things worse than seeing the tiny holes chewed in cardboard cereal boxes, or hearing faint squeaks and teeny feet skittering from view.
What if I don’t want to use mouse traps?
Though a mouse infestation will ultimately require the use of traps, there are measures to take before, during, and after you catch the little critters. Mice are attracted to readily available sources of food and shelter. Keep food securely stored in glass or plastic containers. Avoid allowing trash and clutter to accumulate in the home. Be sure appliances, drawers, and cabinetry are regularly detailed. These preventive measures will limit the conveniences your home has to offer the mice. When deciding how to handle the next step in ridding your house of those furry pests, there are no shortages of options to choose from.
Help me pick the best mouse traps!
Here’s a list of the most common types of mouse traps, and how to use them:
- The easiest, and most common on our list are the snap traps. These are lethal traps that use bait to lure the mouse. Bait can be anything from peanut butter or chocolate, to fruits and vegetables. Place snap traps in multiple location throughout the home where mice are suspected. Mice don’t travel far, so you’ll want to place traps no more than 6 to 10 feet apart.
- If lethal traps are a turn-off, there are several options for catch and release traps. The most humane are the non-wind-up versions. These can be used in place of the snap traps and can catch multiple mice. When these types of traps are used, it is necessary to dispose of the rodents properly and/or release them far from the home.
- Catch traps with a wind-up mechanism can also be effective. These traps flip the rodent over into the contained compartment. Catch and release traps should be checked often to avoid having to handle a dead mouse.
- Glue board traps employ the use of sticky mats. These are placed frequently along suspected mouse routes and in possible nesting areas. Glue mats should be checked and replaced often as they collect debris quickly and may not be as effective over time.
- though not a trap in the traditional sense, cats and even some dogs are usually very efficient at eradicating the squeaky rodents
- The use of toxic pesticides should be avoided as they pose a health risk to non-target animals, including humans, and can be fatal.
Though mice may look fuzzy and cute to some, the diseases and illness they carry are never appealing. For this reason, great care should be taken to avoid direct contact with the critters. Use gloves to handle dead mice, and dispose of them in a sealed plastic bag thrown in the dumpster.
When you’ve had enough of your uninvited guests nibbling on your cereal boxes, invest in any one of these common mouse traps to put an end to your pesky pest problems.
