How to Build a Small Rodent Trap

Moles, mice, rats and other small creatures are more than a nuisance; they can bring diseases into your home. If you want to trap rodents but are squeamish about using a standard snap trap, use a paper bag affixed with a mouse glue board. The paper bag contains the rodent after it is trapped by the glue and makes disposal a breeze.

Things You'll Need

• Small brown paper bag
• Double-sided tape
• Mouse glue boards
• Scissors
• Peanut butter
• Wild bird seed

Instructions

1. You can buy mouse glue boards in most grocery or hardware stores, usually with several boards per package. Although labeled for mice, glue boards are effective ways to catch other small pests, too. Cut glue boards in half for these traps. Using half a board is effective and economical.

2. Open up a brown paper bag and lay it on its side on a flat surface, such as a table. Reach into the bag and attach a piece of double-sided tape to the side that is against the table.

3. Remove the protective paper backing on the glue board and attach it, sticky-side up, to the double-sided tape.

4. Stand the paper bag upright and use a spoon to smear a small amount of peanut butter on the bottom of the bag. To make the trap even more enticing, sprinkle some bird seed on the peanut butter.

5. Lay the homemade rodent trap on its side, glue-board side on the floor, in an area where you have noticed a problem. Check the bag each morning. If you catch the pesky animal, seal the bag and toss it in the trash.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the size of the small animal you are trying to catch when picking the paper bag to use. If a lunch bag is too small, use a bigger bag.

• Rodents carry many diseases that can make you sick. So do not touch the animal after it has been trapped. Instead, quickly close the paper bag, seal it and throw it away.

Resources

• small rodents and disease
• glue boards