How to Buy a Better Mousetrap

If you have mice or rats, get rid of them fast. Peanut butter, grains and cereals or cooked bacon make appetizing bait for traps. Some animals will outsmart any trap. The best approach is to constantly look for rodent activity, seal up entry holes and experiment with various methods. You can find most of the trap options at hardware stores.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Figure out how you want to trap the vermin. There are certainly PETA-friendly options out there, and you can go for the guts and glory traditional snap traps.

2. Assess the severity of your problem, and shop accordingly. Some traps just don't do if your rat infestation looks like the flight of the lemmings. They're only good for one-off kills. However, some traps are easy to set up, so might be good if you notice rodents from floor paneling to ceiling tiles.

3. Understand the function of the trap. Live, or catch-and-release traps are reusable and safe around children and pets. Their main function if to relocate scared rodents. Snap traps are your traditional lock-and-load device. Technically, they're recyclable, but it's not recommended. Glue boards, which draw vermin to a shallow glue tray, are good for bulk encounters, but death is slow and some find them unbearably creepy. Electronic traps use a quick, non-messy electric current to kill rodents. They're more or less safe, but can be costly. Poison is a good option, but tends to take effect before the vermin leave the building, so short-term odor can result. Professional exterminators can be expensive, but are typically the safest bet.

Tips & Warnings

• Ultrasonic barriers are often considered (using ultrasonic waves to ward off pests), but there is no evidence to suggest these are in any way effective.
• Poison is dangerous for pets and kids. A bait station may be required to ensure safety.
• Snap traps can injure people and pets.

[kikigirl]

on 7/25/2007 I use these bags that are aromatic and it doesn't kill the mice...just sends them away. It's called Cab Fresh or Fresh Cab, can't remember. I use it in the house! I use 1 bag per room and they leave within a week. I buy it online. Kind of expensive but better than any of the other stuff!

[wastedyupi]

on 10/21/2007 The best mouse trap are the glue boards (((( when you get a glue board CUT the plastic around the glue, WHY the mouse always runs close to the wall and if you let the plastic around the glue the mouse is going to run on the plastic ;)

on 11/22/2005 If you choose to use live traps, you can save yourself multiple trips to relocate the captured pest. Keep the mice (there's always more than one) as pets in an aquarium or a 5 gallon pail, until you catch them all. Butter on a cracker makes great bait.