How to Make a Homemade Mousetrap

Although some prefer them as pets, most think of mice as pesky creatures. For those of us who would rather not keep them around, a trap is necessary. Times have changed. Either mice have gotten smarter, or humans have gotten dumber (more likely), but a mouse just won't fall for the cheese anymore. These steps will bring you up to speed on how to build a homemade trap at home (and save some money on cheese).

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Trapping and Killing

1. Determine your tolerance. If you are brave enough to trap and kill mice, this section provides the quick and easy way to do so. If you have ethical issues with killing a mouse, move on to the next section.

2. Get a bucket or container that can hold at least five gallons and fill it three-quarters full of water. To make the killing process quicker, add dish soap to the water.

3. Place the bucket in the area of the yard or house where you are having the mouse problem.

4. Add a ramp to your bucket by resting a long piece of wood or plastic on the rim of the bucket. One end of the ramp should be on the ground, the other at the top of the bucket.

5. Drop seeds on the ramp and in the water. This is a key part of the mouse trap! Make sure you form an enticing trail with the seeds.

6. Check the bucket in the morning. A dead mouse will have drowned in the water if your mouse trap was successful. Dispose of the body and dump the water before trapping another mouse.

Building a Humane Mousetrap

1. Utilize this step if you want to trap a mouse and set it free.

2. Find a cardboard, wood or plastic shaped tube. The tube should be big enough for a mouse to crawl through. Toilet paper tubes work very well for this step! Take the tube and fold one side so it lays flat. The shape should be like a tunnel you would drive through on a road or train track.

3. Use a small table, a chair or a stool for this step. Move whatever you are using to the area where you plan to catch the mouse. Place the tunnel you have made on the end of the table so that 1/4 of the tube is on the table and 3/4 of the tube hangs off the end.

4. Stick a tall, heavyweight bucket or can directly underneath the area where you placed the tunnel on the table. The 3/4 end of the tunnel that is hanging off the end of the table should be right above the bucket.

5. Supply the end of your tunnel with some food. Seeds, cracker crumbs or peanut butter are all good options. Place this snack inside the tunnel, on the end that is hanging off the table.

6. Stay away from the mouse trap. A mouse will never fall for your tricks if you stand there waiting. Ever hear the saying, "A watched pot never boils?" Exactly. Leaving the trap overnight is a good idea. If your trap is successful, the mouse will run across the table, notice the food and head through the tunnel to retrieve it. Unfortunately for the mouse, the tunnel you set up is hanging off the end and the mouse will be top heavy. As he retrieves the food, he will tumble into the bucket. You can then dispose of the mouse humanely in an area far, far away from your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the water is high enough to be effective, but low enough so that it doesn't cast a reflection and distract the mouse. Also, if the water is too high, the mouse may be able to climb out.

• Adding too many seeds may cause your plan to backfire. Place your seeds strategically. You don't want a full mouse to turn around and walk back down the ramp.