A mousetrap is a device designed to aid in catching mice and help homeowners eliminate them as pests. These can look somewhat brutal, but in truth, they are humane and will quickly solve the problem. Solutions that are kinder to the animal often just don’t work, which is when the majority of homeowners will turn to mousetraps. This article helps you by outlining common mousetrap mistakes.

Common Mousetrap Mistakes

For a mousetrap to be effective, it’s important that you use the right type of mousetrap, and use it in the correct way. In this post, we’ll explore what that means, and the common mousetrap mistakes people make!

Not Setting Them

As mentioned, mousetraps have the potential to look a little on the violent side. While they are usually lethal though, they will act swiftly and humanely. Not only that, but they will often provide the only real choice if you need to get rid of a disease-carrying mouse or rat! The longer you put this off, the more they will multiply and the harder it will be. Don’t delay!

Ruining Bait

When you handle mouse bait with bare hands, you transfer your scent onto it. This can then make it seem much less appealing to the mouse or rat, thereby preventing them from going near the trap! That’s pretty much the opposite of what you want to achieve… so wear gloves!

Not Removing the Bodies

It’s a grim thought, but after your traps have been successful, you need to remove the rats or mice from them. If you don’t do this, then their bodies will rot, and this will cause a lot of bad odor. Not only is this unpleasant in its own right, but it can also attract flies. Those flies will lay their eggs in the bodies, and this, in turn, will lead to maggots that can end up falling through the ceiling!

Use a Tiny Amount

You might think that using a larger amount of bait would be more effective. In fact though, if there is a large amount of food, the mouse will be able to bite a piece off and not get caught. Make it small enough that you force the mouse or rat to get up close and personal.

Poor Placement

If you put the mousetrap in the middle of the room, it probably won’t be effective. Mice like to stick to the walls, so put it down there in the corner and it will definitely get seen. Now give it a couple of days for them to acclimatize to the new object!

Using the Wrong Food

Forget the old cartoon image of mice eating cheese. The rodents are primarily nut and seed eaters. Therefore, the best bait for mouse traps is peanut butter or hazelnut spread. Their hunger for calories also entices them to try chocolate. When temperatures drop outside, mice come inside, slow down, and focus on building nests, so you can lure them to mouse traps with nesting materials. If using snap traps, tie or wrap the fibers around the mouse trap’s trigger to force mice to pull or gnaw on the bait, springing the trap.

What to Put on a Mouse Trap: Best Bait

Although mice are natural seed-eaters, inside homes, mice are more attracted to fatty and sweet foods. Industry experts recommend the following foods and nesting materials to catch a mouse:

  • Peanut Butter
  • Hazelnut spread
  • Marshmallows
  • Gum Drops
  • Beef Jerky
  • Cotton Balls
  • Nesting Materials
    • Dental Floss
    • Yarn
    • Twine

Using Too Few Mouse Traps

Mice reproduce fast and furiously—they can produce six to seven babies in a litter as quickly as every 21 days or so. So you may not realize (or want to think about!) how many of them are in your house. However, you can be almost certain there is more than one. To stop a mouse infestation, you need more than a few mouse traps to get rid of mice quickly. The most common mouse trapping strategy is to place one mouse trap every 2 to 3 feet along the wall where you’ve seen signs of activity. In the highest-trafficked areas, set mouse traps in pairs as close as an inch apart. Setting traps in the wrong places is sure to keep mice in your home. Using the effective strategy of placing multiple mouse traps won’t work if you are placing them in the wrong open areas.

Patience is Key

Patience, we could all use a little more patience in our lives. And when it comes to setting mouse traps, patience, and a little time, are super important for success. As mentioned above mice are highly intelligent creatures, they adapt, they learn, they noticed when something has been changed in their environment, and they’re even able to smell your presence in the newly placed bait.

Practicing good hygiene and limiting the food supplies found in your home, will slowly push them to risk it all for a taste of your bait. And all it takes is a little patience.

How to Set a Mousetrap

Setting a mousetrap might seem like a simple task, but it’s important to do it correctly to ensure it’s effective and safe. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Materials Needed:

  • Mousetrap
  • Bait (such as peanut butter, cheese, or chocolate)
  • Gloves (optional, for those uncomfortable handling traps)

Instructions:

  1. Choose the Right Trap: There are various types of mousetraps available, including snap traps, glue traps, and electronic traps. Choose the one that suits your preference and situation. Snap traps are traditional and effective for catching mice.
  2. Read the Instructions: Before handling the mousetrap, carefully read any instructions or warnings provided by the manufacturer. This will ensure you understand how to set up the trap safely.
  3. Prepare the Bait: Place a small amount of bait on the bait pedal or trigger of the mousetrap. Peanut butter, cheese, or chocolate are commonly used baits. Ensure the bait is securely attached to the trap, so it doesn’t easily fall off.
  4. Handle the Trap Carefully: When handling the mousetrap, be cautious to avoid accidentally setting it off. If you’re uncomfortable handling traps, consider wearing gloves for added safety.
  5. Set the Trap: Depending on the type of trap, you’ll need to follow specific instructions for setting it. For a snap trap, typically you’ll pull back the kill bar and hold it in place while setting the trap. Then, carefully place the bait on the bait pedal or trigger. Slowly release the kill bar, ensuring it’s properly aligned with the bait pedal.
  6. Position the Trap: Place the mousetrap in areas where you’ve noticed mouse activity, such as along walls or in corners. Make sure to position it perpendicular to the wall with the baited end facing the wall. Mice tend to travel along walls, so this increases the likelihood of them triggering the trap.
  7. Check and Reset: Check the mousetrap regularly, preferably daily, to see if it has caught a mouse. If the trap has been triggered but hasn’t caught anything, reset it by following the same steps outlined above. Remember to dispose of any captured mice humanely and according to local regulations.
  8. Be Patient: It may take some time before the trap catches a mouse, so be patient. If you haven’t had success after a few days, consider repositioning the trap or trying a different type of bait.
  9. Safety Precautions: Always handle mousetraps with care to avoid injuring yourself. Keep traps out of reach of children and pets, and never place them in areas where they could pose a danger to non-target animals.

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