How to Choose the Best Humane Mouse Trap
There are a number of ways to get mice out of your home and, fortunately, a huge number of humane traps are now available on the market. Using a humane trap is also safer for all members of the household, posing very little risk to children or existing pets.
If you’re trying to decide which is the best mouse trap to go for, or identify the signs of a mouse infestation, have a read of the following tips and advice:
Different Types of Mouse Trap
There are a lot of mouse traps on the market. While some are designed to kill the mouse instantly, others simply capture the mouse, ready for release.
For reference, here are some of the different traps available (be warned – only the final option is a ‘no kill’ choice):
Electric Mouse Traps
These kill the mouse instantly. The mouse enters the trap and triggers an electric current. These traps have a high success rate, but they are expensive. However, as the mouse is killed instantly, it’s generally believed that they don’t suffer.
Plastic Snap Traps
These are not humane traps. They kill the mouse by snapping the jaws of the trap closed around the mouse’s head/body. In some cases, they injure the mouse instead of killing it outright which causes a lot of suffering. These aren’t reusable and need to be thrown away after use.
Glue Traps
These consist of a piece of cardboard or fibreboard which is covered with very strong glue. The mouse runs across the glue and becomes stuck. These are not humane and cause a lot of suffering. The mouse becomes extremely distressed and in most cases will injure itself while trying to get free. Trying to release a mouse from a glue trap is also nearly impossible.
Catch and Release Traps
These are the most humane traps you can purchase. The mouse doesn’t suffer, and in most cases, stress is minimal. The door shuts when the mouse enters the trap, and they can be released back outside (ideally a good few miles from your home!). These need very regular checking, and not all mice are brave enough to enter the trap.
Humane Traps vs Kill Traps
Many people are uncomfortable with the thought of killing a mouse, and for this reason a catch and release trap is the best option.
There are pros and cons to both, as some people find the mouse returns back to their house once it’s been released. However, if you are able to sleep better at night knowing you haven’t killed a mouse, a humane trap is the best option.
You should ensure that the mouse isn’t caught in the trap for too long. This can cause immense stress, hunger and dehydration which will cause a lot of damage. If you are going away for the weekend, these traps shouldn’t be set.
It’s also important that you rehome the mouse a good distance from your home to prevent it returning.
Mouse Trap Features to Look For
Choosing the Right Size
Most humane mouse traps have a similar design. The mouse enters the trap to eat the bait and activates the trapdoor. Once the mouse is fully into the trap, the trapdoor slams shut behind them. The mouse is then trapped, ready for release.
It’s important that the trap is large enough for the mouse you’re trying to trap. Field mice are very small and lightweight, so you need a trap that’s sensitive enough – otherwise, you may find the mice can run in, eat the bait then leave!
If you’ve got larger mice in your home, you need a trap that’s big enough. If your trap is too small for the mouse it catches, the mouse could get very stressed and suffer. There’s also the possibility that the mouse’s tail may get stuck in the door, causing injury.
Ease of Use
Dealing with mice is rarely a pleasant experience, but a trap that’s easy to use will make the whole ordeal a little less stressful.
Baiting and setting the trap is usually very easy, but it’s releasing the mouse that can be tricky. If mice make you jump easily, look for a release mechanism that doesn’t require you to put your hand near the mouse’s escape route. Some humane traps allow you to lift the door from the outside. Alternatively, many traps are easy to simply take apart to release the mouse.
Multi-Pack
If you’ve got a lot of mice on your property, you’re going to need a few traps. Mice breed fast, so it’s worth trying to catch a few at once! Even if you only have one mouse, you’ll be more likely to catch it if you set traps around your home in different places.
Easy Cleaning
Plastic and metal mouse traps are generally easy to clean, but mouse traps can be very small which makes cleaning the inside tricky. Those that can be taken apart fully are easiest to clean after use.
Recognising the Signs of Mice in the Home
Aside from the obvious of actually seeing a mouse, there are a number of tell-tale signs that you may have a mouse taking up residence in your home.
- Spotting mouse droppings. These measure around 3 – 8 mm in length and resemble dark grains of rice. You may spot them in cupboards or along skirting boards
- Grease marks that are caused by mice brushing against walls.
- Gnaw marks on boxes of food or crumbs scattered around cupboards
- Scratching noises – most commonly at night when the mice are most active
- A strong ammonia smell – caused my mouse urine
- Spotting nests in small areas such as in the attic, under floorboards or in cupboards
Preventing a Mouse from Coming into your Property
Prevention is better than cure. The best way to deter mice is to block any entrance points, sealing holes around pipes and filling old holes. You should keep your lawn mown short to reduce the shelter available to mice and reduce the number of seeds that they can eat.
Store your food in airtight containers, and dispose of your rubbish regularly. Keep your home well ventilated, and fix any leaking pipes or clogged drains.
The Problem with Having Wild Mice in the House
Whilst you might not be too worried about one little mouse in your home, unfortunately they can be damaging to both health and property.
Mice can cause structural damage to the home, as well as to your furniture. If you leave mice unchecked, the damage can become even more serious.
To build nests and feed themselves, mice will chew through nearly anything, including walls and insulation. This can lead to fire hazards, as wires are left exposed and unprotected. Electrical appliances may be ruined as well.
Mice can also contaminate your food storage areas, leading to illnesses including salmonellosis, leptospirosis and LCM. This poses a risk even if you don’t directly touch the mice, as mouse faeces and urine can get onto surfaces and even into the air that we breathe.
If you’ve got mice in your garden, you may find nests in your shed, garage, compost bin or vegetation. Field mice commonly live in gardens, and can invade greenhouses and eat your seeds! They may also chew through plastic pots, wood, bags and boxes. If you are growing produce to eat, it’s even more important that you eliminate any mice, as their urine and faeces can spread diseases.
For this reason, it’s essential that you tackle a mouse infestation as soon as you notice it.
Humane Mouse Trap FAQs
What food should I use in my mouse trap?
Contrary to popular belief, cheese isn’t the best thing to use in a mouse trap. Mice are actually lactose intolerant, so it can cause them more harm than good.
It’s thought the best bait for a trap is peanut butter. This strikes the right balance of fat and sugar, and rodents are able to smell it from a good distance away.
Mice love sugar, so you could also try using chocolate and sweets.
Remember to wear gloves when setting the traps. Mice have a very good sense of smell and can detect your scent on items you’ve handled. This may cause them to avoid the traps.
It’s also important to only use a very small amount of bait. The mouse should have to fully enter the trap in order to reach the bait, otherwise the trap may not be activated.
Where should I put my mouse trap?
Mice are nervous in open areas, so tend to scurry close to walls and in the corners of your home. Place your mouse traps against the wall, as opposed to in the middle of the room. The bait and trigger end should be facing the wall.
Other good places for traps are in the backs of cupboards and behind the fridge.
For maximum effectiveness, you can put a number of mouse traps along the wall around 1 metre apart.
How do you know if your mice are gone?
When you stop noticing signs of mice, you can safely assume they are no longer in your home. If you are no longer seeing droppings or smelling ammonia, the mice have likely gone. However, your work isn’t finished, and you should continue making your home as unattractive to mice as you can.
Mice infestations tend to recur, so you should block all entry points and not leave any food lying around. Ensure you rehome any caught mice at least a couple of miles from your property, to prevent them from coming back.
What should I do once I’ve caught a mouse in the humane trap?
When it’s time to release the trap, it’s recommended to take them far from your home – at least two miles away. This might sound unnecessary, but mice have a good sense of direction. If you don’t rehome them far enough away, they are likely to return!
