Step 1: Inspect the attic for trails and mouse poop, and correctly identify that mice are the problem animal.
Step 2: Inspect the entire exterior of the house from top to bottom and seal shut, with metal, any open holes bigger than a dime.
Step 3: Set mouse traps, the wooden snap traps, baited with peanut butter, in the attic and areas where you see activity.
Step 4: Check the traps and remove mice until you catch no more and hear no more sounds.
Step 5: If you still hear sounds, repeat step 2, but do it better.
No one wants to let mice run around their house, but many folks also feel badly when they use poison or sticky traps.
Often they feel that if they use live traps and then release the mice they are being kind to them. They are allowing
them to live out their lives in a peaceful setting. This is not really true. It is very rare that a creature taken more
than 200 yards from its home will survive in the wild and you must take a mouse at least 6 miles away for it to not return
to your home. If you really want to use a cage or live trap to catch mice, please do it with the understanding that you
should be prepared to kill the mice rather than release them. It may seem cruel, but there are quick ways to do it. The
most efficient and humane way to do this is to drop the cage in a body of water and drown them. If you know someone who
raises snakes or large frogs and needs food this could be another option. When talking about being infested by mice, it
is usually best to just BE RID of them once and for all.
That means using traps that kill. There are plenty of more humane type traps than toxic poison or horrid sticky traps that let them die a
lingering death. There are snap (or spring) traps that are able to end a mouse’s life quickly with little stress. They come in a variety
of materials and several sizes. Even though a mouse is small it is better to opt for a larger size trap to ensure it workers swiftly. They
are reasonably inexpensive and when you purchase the large sturdy type, quite reliable. The main drawback to a snap trap is that you must
empty and clean the trap in order to reuse it. This might be too much for some people. You might also consider an electric trap. This
ingenious trap is a rectangular box that is electrified in which bait is placed. The mouse goes in to the box in order to retrieve the
bait and is immediately electrocuted. This is a quick death, and cleanup just requires you to shake the body into the trash.
You may think that all this talk about killing defenseless mice is cruel, but while they are an integral part of the eco system, they are a short-lived
creature. The reason they reproduce so prolifically is because their lives are often cut short since they are prey for so many other creatures. Killing
this excess of mice when they overrun your home is helping to maintain the population, making sure that there is enough land, food, and water to maintain
the rest of the mice in your area. Think about this the next time you believe that you are doing well by releasing a rodent out in to the wild.
While there is any number of nuisance animals covered by laws about how and when you can trap, kill and move them
when they invade your home, the r is really no compunction about getting rid of a mouse. This is mice can be a pain
in the tucas but are beneficial to our environment. Mice are extremely important to eco balance. You may just consider
them dirty little "pests," but that is not necessarily true.
First you have to realize that “pest” is a relative term.
Mice only seem like “pests" to humans. Much like all of us humans are most likely "pests" to bees and other flying
insects and other animals we spurn. Mice have many important roles to play in the world scheme of things. The mouse
serve as a major food source for large number of animals, many who are endangered and need the plentiful and easy mouse
to catch food source to survive. Creatures such as birds of prey and certain snakes depend on them. Many wild animals
like wolves, foxes, coyotes, badgers, and big cats will eat mice during the lean winter months when nothing else can be
found. If mice were suddenly taken from our ecosystem it could cause serious repercussions.
If animals who depend on mice could not feed, it could mean the loss of a species. Mice reproduce at an extremely fast rate. This
means that they help, keep balance in the ecosystem basically by being a sure fire means of food for these creatures. Lest you think
that all mice are good for is being eaten, let me continue signing this lowly rodents virtues. . Mice also keep balance the eco system
by controlling the overgrowth of natural grains that in many areas by eating them. It may not seem like much, but without the ravenous
little mouse to feed on these grasses, these grain grasses have the possibility growing out of control. Being choked out by grain grasses
could be dangerous for plants that are necessary for a healthy environment. Mice also chew constantly as a means of filing down their
ever growing teeth. In the wild they are constantly chewing on fallen limbs, bark, underbrush and other deadfall that is them mulched down
into compost that will feed and maintain the other plants.
In answer to the question- How to trap mice - how to catch a mouse
The answers are yes, but please think about it. Use live traps that
will not torture maim or kill the mouse. You only have to move a mouse 6 miles away for it to stay gone. It can be removed from your home
and still allowed to live out its short life helping the eco-system. You can rid your home of mice and do a great service to the Earth by
this one act of responsible kindness. Live traps are easy to DIY or purchase in a wide range of styles and sizes. They are very affordable
and easy to use. The next time you have a mouse problem; remember they were just looking for a safe and secure place to live.
Go back to the
How to get rid of mice in the attic home page. You might also want to read about
how to kill mice and why the use
of snap traps is better than
mouse poison. Read an analysis of the different types of traps and how to use them on the
how to trap mice page.
Learn why
bait is not as important as trap type, placement and location. Also read a full analysis of
mouse repellent to understand why it
never works. If you see droppings and want to identify them, read the
mouse poop page. If you need to hire professional help, read about
how much does mouse removal cost?
or you can read this site to learn how to do it yourself. Feel free to email me about How to trap mice - how to catch a mouse