Humane Mouse Traps for Clever Mice!

Calypso Realm · 15-12-2019 1:27am #1

Apart for the odd one brought in by our cats (which we no longer have sadly) we've never, ever had mice! So not something I've ever had to deal with.........

That is until recently, so I'd be very grateful for some tips on use of above-the trip, tunnel type. Know they've worked well for some but...I've caught nothing so far. Had one near miss only to discover that the little blighter had managed to open back of trap and eaten all the peanut butter!! I'd even cellotaped the back on to eliminate this possibility, which was chewed through! One ran across the floor a few night ago, while I was watching TV! Also becoming hype-vigilant to any strange noises around home. Help!

I've now got five of these traps and am determined to be mouse-free this week!

Any help really appreciated!

cheif kaiser · 15-12-2019 7:34am

I've used these previously and had great success with them, catching all 5 mice within a couple of days.

I didn't use peanut butter, I used biscuits with a little trail of small crumbs leading into the trap and the prize piece at the end of the trap.

They are also very sensitive in the way they are set up. If the door is not set just right, I found that is just jams open, so maybe have a few tries of this until you get it just right?

Lastly, I would suggest that you leave them along the skirting boards where mice usually travel, maybe behind the sofa, etc.

Calypso Realm · 15-12-2019 11:24am

Thanks for your response-very helpful.

Yes, neighbour caught 7 in space of a few days with them as well. You're right though, I do need to practice. I did wonder about the sensitivity as some closed shut within a few minutes of being set up, though I believe in one case it was a mouse as well, as had heard one in the vicinity shortly before. Currently, have got 3 traps set up and I'll add two more today. For anyone interested I bought 4 on Amazon for about 8 euros.

Anyway, I've come down this morning to one open trap, one closed but empty BUT think I've had some luck with the one in the hall as it feels heavier than its counterparts. Currently trying to muster up the courage to deal with it as OH at work! I've read though you need to release a long way from home, but I think in the circumstances, I'll have to do it nearer as he's not home until later today and don't want to leave the poor thing there for much longer.

Will update later. Thanks again

Calypso Realm · 15-12-2019 12:01pm

Just checked and yet another false alarm!

Set up this trap about an hour before I posted last night and was all OK before we went to bed. I will try to turn trap around as reckon mouse approaching from other end. Something def setting it off. Will have to rethink locations as def need to get situation under control.

cheif kaiser · 16-12-2019 6:20am

Calypso Realm wrote: »

Just checked and yet another false alarm! Set up this trap about an hour before I posted last night and was all OK before we went to bed. I will try to turn trap around as reckon mouse approaching from other end. Something def setting it off. Will have to rethink locations as def need to get situation under control.

That's a shame

Keep us informed if you can. Would be nice for you to have success, it might encourage others to use these traps instead of those horrid kill traps.

reniwren · 16-12-2019 7:11am

What do you do with the mouse after it is caught in a humane trap?

colm_mcm · 16-12-2019 7:12am

reniwren wrote: »

What do you do with the mouse after it is caught in a humane trap?

Let them out, but make them promise not to come back in.

cheif kaiser · 16-12-2019 7:18am

reniwren wrote: »

What do you do with the mouse after it is caught in a humane trap?

I brought them to a local field and let them out. They did promise not to come back an kept their promise

reniwren · 16-12-2019 8:52am

cheif kaiser wrote: »

I brought them to a local field and let them out. They did promise not to come back an kept their promise

Surely letting them out just outside they just come back in, and releasing them too far from where they know is a death sentence anyway.

TopTec · 16-12-2019 9:23am

I have had two infestations over the past 3 years. Used these traps baited with assortment of treats... chocolate, cheese, biscuits, bread and peanut butter. Even used a peanut glued to the end with honey!

I caught 16 the first time and 13 2 years later. (My friend reckons I had caught the same one 16 times). The last mouse of each bunch I could only catch on a death trap as they were the clever ones. I eventually found their way into the cottage through the floor of the attached boiler room.

Like the OP I had far more near misses than successes. I got fed up with activated empty traps so I set up a trail camera on the counter top for a while. The clever ones used to stretch in and keep the door from closing completely with their tails and then reverse out! They are so clever.

The worst times were when I thought the trap was empty and when I opened them the little bugger leapt out onto me chest and then scuttle safely home.

My advice is to persevere... choose different baits for different traps and always expect one inside a closed trap, and release them a good 1/4 mile away!

TT

Calypso Realm · 16-12-2019 10:17am

Thanks again everyone!

I've certainly got clever ones, no doubt at all! Thais morning all, except one, of the five traps looked tampered with. One had closed completely, with nothing inside and another had all the peanut butter eaten but was visibly half-open! It was in the same location as last time where the mouse had literally removed the back-end (cellotaped) of the trap and moved it to a different location and eaten all the bait! At the time I was on the phone to a friend a few feet away! :eek:This time I'd turned it around to face the other way.

TopTec,What you said about the mouse backing out is hilarious but the thought of a mouse jumping out at me would freak me out completely! The last lot of traps I ordered were slightly smaller (though more secure and have some air-holes drilled) so perhaps bigger ones might be better.

Surely the best thing to do is ensure they can't get back in again when released? In our case, when both of us were away, our cleaner left the door open and I'm pretty sure this is how they entered in the first place. I really do need to solve this asap as at this point they're been around for a few weeks! Lord know what damage they've done....and I've heard some scratching already this am!

Any other ideas welcome!

cheif kaiser · 16-12-2019 10:51am

Could it be the type that you bought? 4 traps for €8 seems a tad too good to be true, if you know what I mean? Were the reviews good?

The ones I used are like this https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Gardigo-623583-Trip-Trap-Reusable-Capture/dp/B072XSJFHL/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?keywords=4+humane+mouse+traps&pd_rd_i=B072XSJFHL&pd_rd_r=1abac1e4-3798-46af-b417-e74636c48bdb&pd_rd_w=2AsNs&pd_rd_wg=ZMjhn&pf_rd_p=7dc56c0d-8a5f-4d97-9143-7233b106859a&pf_rd_r=MREZ4K277NAP88APFR3V&qid=1576493236

Calypso Realm · 16-12-2019 11:05am

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Could it be the type that you bought? 4 traps for €8 seems a tad too good to be true, if you know what I mean? Were the reviews good'?

Yes, reviews were generally good as researched beforehand. I checked them all as well and appear to be working.

Thanks for the link but seriously I need something where I can't see the mice!! Watching him scuttle around in there doesn't bear thinking about :eek:

I will alter the locations and bait and see if that makes a difference.

The ones I ordered

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUMANE-MOUSE-RODENT-REUSABLE-CATCHER/dp/B00BPRAP1Q/ref=sr_1_26?keywords=4+Humane+mouse+traps&qid=1576495634&sr=8-26

Calypso Realm · 16-12-2019 11:56am

Actually, folks I DID catch one!!

I thought I'd checked them all but forgot about one in a different place and lo and behold ......a smallish one. Mouse released already down back of garden! So will persevere.

Appeared very fit and healthy as he scurried off, so those air holes do work! (Am getting braver by the day)

Calypso Realm · 18-12-2019 8:25am

.....And another this am!

Both appear to be very young! :eek:Again none the worse for wear as trotted happily off when released so those pre-drilled air holes appear to work. Some types don't have these so something to watch out for, or drill some yourself.

It's important to place traps on a flat surface as otherwise door can close prematurely. I've witnessed this here. Another alternative is to place a small coin on the top of trap near the entrance.

I've order a few more traps to cover more areas of the house.

cheif kaiser · 18-12-2019 8:28am

Calypso Realm wrote: »

.....And another this am!

Both appear to be very young! :eek:Again none the worse for wear as trotted happily off when released so those pre-drilled air holes appear to work. Some types don't have these so something to watch out for, or drill some yourself.

It's important to place traps on a flat surface as otherwise door can close prematurely. I've witnessed this here. Another alternative is to place a small coin on the top of trap near the entrance.

I've order a few more traps to cover more areas of the house.

Well done! Delighted you persisted and it’s paying off.

Hopefully you’ll have them all evicted in time for a peaceful mouse free Christmas

Calypso Realm · 18-12-2019 9:03am

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Well done! Delighted you persisted and it’s paying off.

Hopefully you’ll have them all evicted in time for a peaceful mouse free Christmas

Thanks. No way would I have ever considered those awful other traps (for one thing those little mice looked sooooo cute and I would have felt terrible having to deal with the aftermath of that!) but at the same time I needed to get this problem under control. So needed these to work which they appear to be doing!

Hopefully I'll have more luck with the numbers when the new ones arrive!

cletus · 18-12-2019 9:24am

You should tag them before you let them go, that way you'll know them when you catch them again next week

Calypso Realm · 18-12-2019 2:47pm

cletus wrote: »

You should tag them before you let them go, that way you'll know them when you catch them again next week

Course I have! Do you think I'm daft or something? They all have their unique number according to when they were caught!

Hang on *hears noise* I think M3 has now been captured!

cheif kaiser · 18-12-2019 4:54pm

cletus wrote: »

You should tag them before you let them go, that way you'll know them when you catch them again next week

Don't be so cynical. None of the mice I caught came back.

You all just want to kill them and think it's woosy to actually try to be a little kind to a worthless mouse.

cletus · 18-12-2019 6:29pm

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Don't be so cynical. None of the mice I caught came back.

You all just want to kill them and think it's woosy to actually try to be a little kind to a worthless mouse.

You're right. There's no need to tag them at all. Just give them a stern talking to

Stigura · 19-12-2019 3:47am

Actually, I think ye'll find ye have to be specially trained and licensed to be tagging and releasing wildlife. (My own credentials would go down like four pounds of dry Madeira cake on this thread. What ever)

Yeah: Better to just go all Joe Pesci on them in the first place :cool:

cheif kaiser · 19-12-2019 6:37am

cletus wrote: »

You're right. There's no need to tag them at all. Just give them a stern talking to

We know where you're coming from!

Calypso Realm · 22-12-2019 8:33am

M3,4,5 and 6 all captured and released!

These traps really do work!

TopTec · 22-12-2019 9:21am

Well done Calypso, are they all taking the same bait? Also have you found their entry point yet?
TT

Calypso Realm · 22-12-2019 10:21am

TopTec wrote: »

Well done Calypso, are they all taking the same bait? Also have you found their entry point yet?
TT

I'm still using the peanut butter (not that I ever liked it but from now on I'll associate it solely with mice!) as it's working so far! Guess I should try diversifying as need to increase the count (currently 6 in 7 days) now as want to have them all out asap? I know there are a few more lurking around! Putting down additional traps in other locations today as well. Honestly, I'm a bit shocked to have caught so many but in view of M size, believe female nested here! :eek: M5 was bigger than rest though!

I our case I've no doubt at all entry was via door which cleaner hadn't locked properly and it opened out. Neighbour alerted me to it while I was away. :eek: Thankfully we live in a very safe area well in off the road!

These traps are proving to be very good in view of cost and fact they have pre-drilled air-holes. Certainly mice appear none the worse for wear after spending at least a few hours incarcerated!

cheif kaiser · 22-12-2019 10:39pm

Calypso Realm wrote: »

M3,4,5 and 6 all captured and released!

These traps really do work!

Well done and congrats on dealing with the issue in a humane manner, even though it was fairly clear you were a little freaked out by them

Hopefully a peaceful Christmas now, with no unwanted visitors trying to share your Goodies!

Calypso Realm · 22-12-2019 11:40pm

Thanks guys!

Yes, I'm getting better (less freaking

) but this is largely due to the type of trap in that I only see the mice on release! Also mice are very small! Traps are also very secure which limits any accidents occurring ie a mouse jumping out at me :eek:

There ARE more though....just how many remains to be seen but think I've got most at this point! Will let you know....

Calypso Realm · 27-12-2019 1:39pm

Happy New Year Folks!

M7, 8 and 9 all over the course of the last few days.

The first before Christmas and the others yesterday and today!

I sincerely hope that's the lot!

cheif kaiser · 28-12-2019 2:24am

Calypso Realm wrote: »

Happy New Year Folks!

M7, 8 and 9 all over the course of the last few days.

The first before Christmas and the others yesterday and today!

I sincerely hope that's the lot!

Average litter is 6 to 8 so counting Mama, you should be all clear!

Fingers crossed for you

Calypso Realm · 31-12-2019 2:45pm

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Average litter is 6 to 8 so counting Mama, you should be all clear!

Fingers crossed for you

Well, in that case I probably had a few aunts and uncles as well as M10 and M11 :eek: have now been relocated!

M11 appeared reluctant to leave the confines of the trap so had to leave it there outside late last night, as it was sooo cold. At one point I even began to doubt if there was anything inside until I shone the torch in and saw a tail! :eek: At any rate , he and all the bait had departed this am.:)

cletus · 31-12-2019 10:09pm

At what point do you know you don't have re-visits

Calypso Realm · 01-01-2020 1:33pm

cletus wrote: »

At what point do you know you don't have re-visits

Given the original entry point in our case ie door it's highly unlikely. We last had cats until about three years ago and even in the intervening time we've never had any mice at all, ever.

I have to say though I am surprised at the numbers we've caught though!

cheif kaiser · 01-01-2020 7:38pm

Calypso Realm wrote: »

Given the original entry point in our case ie door it's highly unlikely. We last had cats until about three years ago and even in the intervening time we've never had any mice at all, ever.

I have to say though I am surprised at the numbers we've caught though!

You mentioned previously that you caught one bigger than the others. Can you recall if you have caught a big one more than once?

Calypso Realm · 01-01-2020 11:57pm

cheif kaiser wrote: »

You mentioned previously that you caught one bigger than the others. Can you recall if you have caught a big one more than once?

Yes, I wondered if there were two litters as well.

Difficult to say about size as most bolted out of the trap so quickly and ran off into the undergrowth! One or two were released at night as well. And, while I've little experience of observing mice at close range :eek:, none appeared to be very small. Of course I never saw the last one as well, so could well have been a bigger one. Hard to tell all around.

I'm keeping the traps baited anyway, just in case. To date I've gone through about half the peanut butter!

cheif kaiser · 02-01-2020 1:47am

Calypso Realm wrote: »

Yes, I wondered if there were two litters as well.

Difficult to say about size as most bolted out of the trap so quickly and ran off into the undergrowth! One or two were released at night as well. And, while I've little experience of observing mice at close range :eek:, none appeared to be very small. Of course I never saw the last one as well, so could well have been a bigger one. Hard to tell all around.

I'm keeping the traps baited anyway, just in case. To date I've gone through about half the peanut butter!

What I was actually wondering was, had the Mother returned. The Mother can sometimes find her way back to her litter and is she did, she would have left a scent trail for the others to find their way back to Mama.

I would take to releasing them a little further from home, just in case.

skooterblue2 · 02-01-2020 2:07am

We have a humane rat trap at home. We allow the jack russell to cast judgement afterwards. If they can escape the jack russell in the center of the lawn then they deserve to live. doesnt happen though.

cheif kaiser · 02-01-2020 5:28am

skooterblue2 wrote: »

We have a humane rat trap at home. We allow the jack russell to cast judgement afterwards. If they can escape the jack russell in the center of the lawn then they deserve to live. doesnt happen though.

And when your dog catches leptospirosis from the rats, I hope you have enough cash to pay for it’s treatment or probably more accurate, it’s euthanasia.

cletus · 02-01-2020 7:24am

chief Kaiser wrote:

Don't be so cynical. None of the mice I caught came back.

cheif kaiser wrote: »

What I was actually wondering was, had the Mother returned. The Mother can sometimes find her way back to her litter and is she did, she would have left a scent trail for the others to find their way back to Mama.

I would take to releasing them a little further from home, just in case.

...

TopTec · 02-01-2020 8:52am

As I said before the two infestations I experienced involved 16 and 13 individuals..... I released them about 400 yards away up the lane. The mice varied in sizes and it was always the biggest one I caught last. The trail cam I had set up revealed there were sometimes 3 hunting around the kitchen for scraps at night.

Perseverence is the key... took me several weeks to clear them out.

You are being very brave for someone who is not keen on the little critters.

TT

skooterblue2 · 02-01-2020 3:10pm

cheif kaiser wrote: »

And when your dog catches leptospirosis from the rats, I hope you have enough cash to pay for it’s treatment or probably more accurate, it’s euthanasia.

He has been judging them for the last 6 years and hasnt caught it yet. He just snaps their necks. He doesnt play with them.

decky1 · 02-01-2020 3:17pm

some people use a milk bottle at a slight angle with food in it , ok going in but can never get out. them leave it out for the milk man and he'll take it away , problem solved.

decky1 · 02-01-2020 3:19pm

reniwren wrote: »

Surely letting them out just outside they just come back in, and releasing them too far from where they know is a death sentence anyway.

'too far away from where they know ' ah stop will you:rolleyes:

cheif kaiser · 02-01-2020 4:15pm

skooterblue2 wrote: »

He has been judging them for the last 6 years and hasnt caught it yet. He just snaps their necks. He doesnt play with them.

Been lucky so far so.

My dog caught it and it almost killed him and indeed it would have killed him had I listened to the stupid Vet who said he just had a stomach upset. I diagnosed it myself from his symptoms and insisted she treat him for it. Tests later proved he was in a bad way and was lucky to survive. He lived for another 2 years but the damage to his liver meant he died sooner than he should have.

Calypso Realm · 17-01-2020 3:16pm

I'm sorry to hear about your dog CK but kudos to you for being savvy enough to challenge the vet's diagnosis. I, too have had quite a few run-ins with vets over the years (I know I've a slight advantage given my background) but all the same, it can be quite a challenge at times, so I understand. Some of mine would have died had I gone along with some of the diagnoses they came up with. I actually begun to despair at some of the vets I came across in my time!

Anyway, at this point I can safely say, we're at last mouse free! Despite hearing a few odd noises now and again, I haven't caught any more since I last updated and it appears none have come back either!

I'm very impressed with those little traps I used. They really do work well.

Thanks again for all the help everyone! All your tips contributed to our success.

Calypso Realm · 12-02-2020 1:45am

Been 6 weeks now and most definitely mouse-free!

Needless to say no 'returners' either, despite being released at the bottom of the garden!

TopTec · 12-02-2020 11:32am

Well done you. Not easy to deal with an infestation like this. I'm fine with mice but show me a spider and I am gone!
TT

Calypso Realm · 11-11-2020 2:12pm

Well, nine months in and not a single sign of any mice, returners or otherwise!

Now-I had wondered at the time what these mice were living on as I'd taken every effort to clear up any crumbs etc in the kitchen,at night. Made sure all edibles boxed away etc.

Anyway, during first lockdown I decided to clear out one of the spare rooms, which in recent years we tend use as a junk room (( know!) Amongst other long-forgotten items I came across some boxes of choc liqueurs I'd brought back from one of my trips to Dublin. Of course they'd riifled their way through them all!! Shredded remnants of the boxes everywhere! Might also explain why they were relatively easy to catch towards the end.....! Of course I found other items, mainly clothing which had been nibbled as well...one of my favourite T-shirts for instance!

In addition on reflection, I've now come to the conclusion their mode of initial entry wasn't through the door (I'd initially thought so bec cleaner hadn't locked it properly and it was ajar) but down to a box which I'd brought in from the shed! While I'd always known we had them in there (shed) I hadn't expected one (or two!) to be in the box when I ferried it inside , that time!

Of course we went away after that and it all took off from there....

Humane Mouse Traps for Clever Mice!

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